PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markku Mikkola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aarne Wind (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.

Mikkola
vs
Wind

183 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
18
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Markku Mikkola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aarne Wind!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Mikkola misses.
Mikkola displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wind.
Mikkola looks to throw the jab but Wind is out of range.
Mikkola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wind sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mikkola thows a body shot but no joy.
Mikkola shoots for a takedown but Wind saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mikkola attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wind.
Wind sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mikkola is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Mikkola is looking to reverse the position.

Wind is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mikkola has escaped the position, nice work there.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wind decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mikkola throws an overhand right that lands on Wind's shoulder, as Wind tries to avoid the shot.
Wind dodges the punch combination from Mikkola.
Wind misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wind throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Markku Mikkola has been cut.
Mikkola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wind swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mikkola falls off balance throwing a combination

and Wind counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mikkola!
Wind can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mikkola is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wind is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mikkola is surviving well by controlling Wind's body position as best he can.
Mikkola wants to hold on but Wind pushes him away.
Mikkola taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mikkola wants to control but Wind is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wind can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mikkola is looking to escape.
Wind dominating with strikes here.
Wind trying to control but Mikkola is having none of it.
Mikkola tries to buck Wind off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
BOOM! Wind connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mikkola knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wind on the ground.
Wind trying to control but he's not successful this time.
BOOM! Wind connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Wind landing punches.
Wind working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wind controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aarne Wind dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Markku Mikkola's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Wind fails with the takedown.
Mikkola fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wind throws a series of punches but Mikkola avoids them all with ease.
Mikkola wants to land a leg kick but Wind is out of range.
Wind misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mikkola throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Wind counters with a good low kick that Mikkola was not able to check.
Mikkola looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wind is fending him off so far but Mikkola persists. Nope, Wind circles away and we're back to standing.
Markku Mikkola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikkola tries to close the distance and clinch but Wind swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mikkola misses with a low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mikkola defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wind.
Mikkola finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mikkola lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wind circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkola clinches but Wind breaks the clinch
and Wind counters with a one-two to the body.
Wind lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Wind.

Mikkola gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wind accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wind working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mikkola's head.

Wind stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mikkola darts in trying to clinch

and Wind counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wind passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wind lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mikkola tries to hold on but Wind pushes him away.

Wind stands up from mount. Strange move.
Mikkola tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Wind is able to avoid easily.
Wind lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wind dodges the punch combination from Mikkola.
Mikkola misses with a combination
and Wind counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mikkola wants to clinch up but Wind keeps it at a distance.
Wind misses with a two punch combination.
Mikkola scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A jab from Wind finds it's way through Mikkola's defenses.
Wind shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mikkola pinned against the cage. Mikkola gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Markku Mikkola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aarne Wind.
Mikkola tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Wind is able to avoid easily.
Markku Mikkola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wind avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wind fails with a takedown attempt.

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.
Mikkola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mikkola misses with a looping right.
Wind gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mikkola.
Wind fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mikkola misses with a double jab

and Wind counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mikkola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mikkola throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mikkola trying to keep a closed guard but Wind is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aarne Wind showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Markku Mikkola's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wind shoots in and drives through. Mikkola sprawls well.
Mikkola lands a nice shot that snaps Wind's head back.
Mikkola throws a solid leg kick but Wind takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mikkola.
Wind avoids a kick to the body.
Wind lands a nice shot that snaps Mikkola's head back.
Mikkola checks a low kick from Wind.
Mikkola thows a leg kick but Wind checks it
and Wind counters with a left and a right that stings Mikkola.
Mikkola lands with a hook. Wind tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

It looks like Aarne Wind has been cut.
Mikkola doesn't manage to clinch there - Wind circles away.
Wind misses with the combination.
Wind shoots in for a double leg but Mikkola sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wind slips a jab and a cross from Mikkola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkola looks to throw the jab but Wind is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Mikkola.
Mikkola swinging wildly here.

Wind shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wind was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Wind trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Wind throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Wind with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikkola takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Aarne Wind has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mikkola takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Wind cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Wind swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Mikkola is now in Wind's guard. A big mistake from Wind there, giving up the dominant position!
Mikkola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wind works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mikkola is looking to work some ground and pound but Wind has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wind looking for a sweep. Not yet Wind, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mikkola lands a couple of digs.
Wind has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wind avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Mikkola decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mikkola falls off balance throwing a combination
and Wind counters with a left and a right that stings Mikkola.
Mikkola misses with a combination

so Wind counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mikkola controlling Wind's posture.
Mikkola is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wind works over Mikkola with some ground and pound from guard.
Aarne Wind is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wind not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Markku Mikkola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Mikkola working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wind doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wind manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mikkola keeping moving, preventing Wind from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aarne Wind comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wind 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aarne Wind!