PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Mike (ranked 6427 p4p, 24571 weight class) and Cam Velower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mike
vs
Velower

185 cm
20
135
3 - 7 - 1

175 cm
20
135
1 - 10 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Oscar Mike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cam Velower!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mike tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Velower manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mike really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mike looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Mike clinches up against the cage.
Velower avoids the elbow strike from Mike, against the cage.
Mike slowing the pace effectively.

Mike manages to break the clinch.
Velower avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Velower is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Velower shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mike as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velower fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velower is defended easily by Mike.
Oscar Mike has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cam Velower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velower paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And Velower tries to counter it with a takedown but Mike pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Velower circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mike has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velower.
Mike appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Velower connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Mike forces Velower back against the cage and clinches.
Velower tries to pull guard but Mike holds him up against the cage and eventually Velower drops back down to his feet.

Velower lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mike pushes Velower off but Velower dives into side control.
The ground and pound from Velower seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Velower tries to advance to mount but Mike denies him.
Velower taking a breather here.
Velower has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Mike!
Velower misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Velower wants to control the pace but Mike is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velower with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Mike really wants to buck Velower off and get back to his feet.
Mike holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Velower tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mike bucks up and throws Velower to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Mike wants to clinch.
Mike doesn't manage to clinch there - Velower circles away.
Velower with the counter takedown but Mike avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velower fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mike appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mike is looking to clinch but Velower is avoiding it.
Velower changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mike tries to avoid it but Velower manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mike to the ground. Mike escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Velower has his takedown stuffed

and Mike counters by clinching up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Velower breaks from the clinch.
Mike stuffs the takedown attempt from Velower. Velower gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Oscar Mike will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Velower looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mike is fending him off so far but Velower persists. Nope, Mike circles away and we're back to standing.
Velower has a takedown stuffed.
Mike fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Mike. No joy for Velower on that attempt.
Oscar Mike has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cam Velower.

Mike clinches up with Velower and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Velower gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mike is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Velower is defending well.

Velower successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velower manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mike manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velower decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mike, up you get!
Velower shoots in for a double leg but Mike sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Velower dives in for a single leg takedown but Mike sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Velower fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mike avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Mike as Velower shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mike displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velower.
Mike wants to clinch up but Velower keeps it at a distance.
Velower shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mike as he avoids it easily.
Mike appears to be looking for a big counter.

Mike moves into the clinch.
Velower fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Velower tries to pull guard but Mike holds him up against the cage and eventually Velower drops back down to his feet.
Velower tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mike just stands there and leans against the cage.

Velower breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velower looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mike is looking to clinch but Velower is avoiding it.
Oscar Mike seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mike tries to clinch there but Velower circles away.
Mike tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Velower manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Velower changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mike tries to clinch up.
Mike wants to clinch up but Velower keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velower swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Velower with the counter takedown but Mike avoids it easily.
Velower fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mike avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Mike was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Velower shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mike defends it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mike throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Mike dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mike tries to close the distance and clinch but Velower swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mike shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Velower as he jumps to the side.
Mike wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velower swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mike wants to clinch up but Velower keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velower shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mike defends it nicely.
Mike attempts a counter takedown but Velower avoids it well and moves away.
Velower changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mike tries to avoid it but Velower manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mike to the ground. Mike escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mike moves in looking to clinch but Velower pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velower.
Mike feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Oscar Mike has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cam Velower.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velower swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mike.
Mike stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mike wants it to stay on the feet.
Velower tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mike defends well and Velower ends up having to push Mike into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mike tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Velower manages to circle out of the way.
Mike tries to clinch up but Velower circles away and keeps his distance.
Velower drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mike defends it well.
Oscar Mike is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velower is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mike sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mike fails in his attempt to clinch.
Velower shoots in for a takedown but Mike shows good takedown defense.
Mike seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike tries to clinch there but Velower circles away.
Velower shoots in looking for a takedown but Mike manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Velower's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mike seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Velower shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mike as he jumps to the side.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velower paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velower wants to counter the offense by Mike and move into the clinch position.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velower paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velower feints the counter takedown.
Velower shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four 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.
Velower tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mike swivels and escapes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Velower misses with a takedown
and Mike counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Velower shoots in and drives through. Mike sprawls well.
A little feinted left hand from Mike on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mike fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mike is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velower is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oscar Mike showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mike, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oscar Mike!