PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tuomas Keto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phal Um (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Keto
vs
Um

183 cm
21
182 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

190 cm
27
180 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuomas Keto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phal Um!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keto dives in and grabs Um's left leg, looking for a takedown. Um pushes down on Keto's head and hops out.
A slow jab from Keto misses its intended target.
Keto moves out of range as Um strikes.
Keto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Um sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Keto somewhat.
Um rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Keto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Um is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Keto.
Tuomas Keto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keto shoots in for a takedown but Um shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuomas Keto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Um pushes Keto up against the cage in a clinch.
Um tries to score a body lock takedown but Keto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Keto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Um gets underhooks to prevent Keto's takedown attempt.
Keto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Keto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Um just stands there and leans against the cage.

Um escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Um.
A jab from Um finds it's way through Keto's defenses.

Keto shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Um is not content to let Keto control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Um trying to hold on to Keto's head to control him but Keto postures up.
Um might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Keto kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Um is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Keto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Keto's back!
Um misses with an elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Um lands shots from the back.
Um softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Keto is in bad spot here.
Um is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Um connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Keto to escape the position.
Um has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Keto.
Um lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Um.
Um lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Keto breaks Um's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Um tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Um keeping moving, preventing Keto from controlling successfully.
Um lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Keto!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keto is desperately trying to improve his position but Um has a good base and remains in mount.
Um working the ground and pound effectively.
Keto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Um looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Um dominating with strikes here.
Um lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keto wants to hold on but Um pushes him away.
Um landing strikes from the mount and Keto is in trouble!
Keto is squirming around, avoiding Um's attempts to control the action.
Um postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Keto looks a forlorn figure.
Um looking to finish Keto with some ground and pound. This is bad for Keto!
Um with the ground and pound from mount.
Um has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Um lands with some strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Keto is squirming around, avoiding Um's attempts to control the action.
Um lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phal Um dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Keto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Um swivels and escapes.

Um scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Um trying to control the action but Keto is working from the bottom.
Keto trying to control but Um postures up.
Um wants to control but Keto is keeping him busy.
Um not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Keto is trying to control but can't.
Um lands with a punch from half guard.
Um wants to control but Keto is keeping him busy.
Um thows a huge punch but Keto dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Keto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Um did well to prevent Keto getting side control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Um works his way to full guard. Good work.
Keto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Keto trying to control the position from guard on top but Um is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Keto being controlled here momentarily.
Keto scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Um is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Um is pulling down on Keto's head to control his posture.
Um looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Keto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Keto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Um keeps working.
Keto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Keto is keen to just control but Um is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Keto is looking to take a break and control but Um is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Keto lands with a good body shot.

Keto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Um did well to prevent Keto getting side control.
Keto trying to control from half guard but Um is working away.

Keto is working for a kimura but Um is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Um trying to control here.

Keto is working for a submission of some sort.

Keto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Um is just riding it out for now. Keto eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tuomas Keto 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. This is the final round!

Keto circles away from the clinch attempt.

Um shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Keto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Keto tries to bench press Um off him but Um keeps the position.
Um creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Keto is working to avoid the ground and pound but Um connects with a decent elbow.
Um scoring with punches and elbows.
Um is looking to take a break and control but Keto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Um works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Um sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Keto is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Um is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Keto's shoulder. That is not cool.
Keto defending against the ground and pound.
Keto on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Um working the ground and pound.
Um working away.
Keto is looking to reverse the position.
Um working the ground and pound.
Um landing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Keto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Um sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Keto is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Um lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Keto down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Um creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Keto is trying to control Um's posture but Um avoids it.
Um landing a few strikes.
Um is working Keto over with some ground and pound from side control.
Keto defending against the ground and pound.
Um moves into full mount!
Keto is looking to improve his position but Um isn't that keen on the idea.
Um postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Keto looks a forlorn figure.
Keto tries to hold on but Um postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Um.
Um lands a nice shot to the head.
Um landing shots from mount.
Um lands a nice shot to the head.
Um prevents Keto from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Um with a couple of short strikes.
Keto is working to get back to half guard.
Um working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Um scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Um trying to control but Keto is having none of it.
Keto is desperately trying to improve his position but Um has a good base and remains in mount.
Um scoring with strikes but Keto is staying in there.
Um with shots to the head and body - Keto looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keto is trying desperately to improve position.
Um avoids the attempt from Keto to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Um tries to control but Keto wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phal Um comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Um has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phal Um!