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). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Keto
vs
Um

183 cm
23
176 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

190 cm
28
180 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tuomas Keto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phal Um!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Um throws a hook to the side of Keto's head but Keto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Um feints and as Keto raises his hands in defense, Um changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Um trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Um with a flurry of punches that miss.
Um missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Um tries to free his leg and advance position but Keto is retaining full guard.
Keto trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Um accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Keto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Um.
Keto trying to keep a closed guard but Um is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Um uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Keto.
Phal Um seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Um uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Keto.
Um digs a good hook to Keto's body.
Um throws a right hand that Keto ducks under and follows up with a left that Keto also avoids with ease.
Keto misses with a wild body shot.
Keto moves out of range of the strikes.
Um misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Um does it's job there.
Um needs to keep his hands up - Keto had a free shot at his head there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Keto. Um does a little dance to reset his feet.
Keto cracks Um with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Keto misses with a jab to the body

and Um counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Keto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Um throwing strikes but missing.
Um won't allow Keto to sweep him here.
Um with a flurry of punches that miss.
Keto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Keto pulls Um in to control the position.
Um missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Um is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Um postures up in Keto's guard and throws a big left but Keto blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Um cracks Keto with a solid left hand.
Keto working a defensive guard here.
Keto wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Keto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Keto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keto is trying to keep Um in close.
Um throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Keto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed right hand from Keto misses the target.

Um shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Um looking to pass the guard.

Keto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keto wants to sweep here but Um controlling him for the moment.
Um is in close to Keto's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Keto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Keto has momentary wrist control but Um slips an elbow through the middle.
Um preventing the sweep.
Um trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Keto manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Um has his feet on Keto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Um throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Keto.
Um throws a hook to the side of Keto's head but Keto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Um misses with a hook. Keto ducked under it nicely.
Keto fails with the takedown

and Um counters with a shoot takedown. Keto fights it but they end up in guard.
Keto is pulling down on Um's head. It's preventing any offense from Um, at least for the moment.
Um missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Um throws a strike but Keto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Keto won't allow Um to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phal Um dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Um listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Um is defended easily by Keto.
Um tries to clinch there but Keto circles away.
Um uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Keto.
Keto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Um looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Keto!
Um avoids the attempt from Keto to control.
Keto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Um working the ground and pound effectively.
Keto is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Um dominating with strikes here.
Um lands a heavy elbow.
Keto is looking to improve his position but Um isn't that keen on the idea.
Um landing shots from mount.
Keto holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Um tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Um landing strikes, looking to finish!
Um thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Keto wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Um.
Um is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Keto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Um looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keto avoids a series of strikes thrown by Um.
Keto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Um with the ground and pound from mount.
Keto wants to control but Um is having none of it.
Keto is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Keto is trying to escape the mount.
Um looking to finish Keto with some ground and pound. This is bad for Keto!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Um with a couple of short strikes.
Keto regains half guard.
Um thows a huge punch but Keto dodges it nicely.
Um tries to pass to full mount but Keto defends it.
Keto on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Keto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Um scores with a couple of nice shots.
Um throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Um throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Keto gets back to full guard.
Keto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Um is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Um is positioning himself well to prevent Keto advancing to mount.
Keto trying to control the action but Um is working from the bottom.
Um tries to roll over but Keto keeps him under control.
Keto wants to control but Um is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phal Um showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Keto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Um.
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 working the ground and pound.
Keto struggling a bit here.
Keto sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Keto trying to control from the bottom.
Um missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Keto wants to control but Um is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Um seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Phal Um has got the better of the ground game so far.
Um thows a huge punch but Keto dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keto is trying to get back to full guard.
Um is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Um throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Um is looking to advance position but Keto won't allow it.
Keto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Um's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Um's back!
Um takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Um is keeping busy.
Keto controlling the position well here. Um rolled but Keto kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Tuomas Keto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phal Um is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Um rolls, trying to escape but Keto keeps control of the position.
Um staying busy and making it hard for Keto to control.
Keto throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Um covering up well and avoiding damage.
Keto scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Keto's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Keto is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Um has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Keto wants to control but Um manages to buck him off and is now in Keto's guard! Nice work there by Um!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tuomas Keto.

Um decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Um missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Um trying to control the action but Keto is working from the bottom.
Keto trying to control from the bottom.
Um wants to take a breather but Keto is having none of it.
Keto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Well, if Um is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Um postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phal Um comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Um 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

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