PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Latham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magne Midgard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Latham comes to the cage accompanied by Frontier Psychiatrist - The Avalanches. Mark Latham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Latham
vs
Midgard

185 cm
23
215 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
217 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Demonic Drugs

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Latham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magne Midgard!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Latham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Midgard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Latham.
Latham tries to clinch but Midgard moves out of range.
Magne Midgard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Latham takes one on the button.
Midgard throws a sloppy head kick and Latham moves out of range easily.
Midgard swats away the attempt to clinch by Latham.
Midgard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Midgard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid body kick from Midgard.
Midgard tries for a takedown but Latham circles away easily
and Latham counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Latham throws a hook but Midgard blocks it.
Midgard thows a body shot but no joy.
Latham swats away the attempt to clinch by Midgard.
Midgard shoots and misses

and Latham counters with a shoot takedown. Midgard fights it but they end up in guard.
Latham stopping the sweep attempt from Midgard.

Midgard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Latham can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Latham forces his way into half guard.
Midgard tries to get to full guard but Latham has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Latham seems to be looking for submissions.
Midgard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Latham wants to take a breather but Midgard is having none of it.
Latham wants to pass the guard but Midgard is defending well.
Latham frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Latham thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Midgard prevents Latham from taking his back.
Latham throws a strike there. Midgard manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Latham trying to pass the guard but Midgard defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latham is working hard here to advance position.

Latham is trying to work for a kimura but Midgard is defending well.
Latham is breathing heavily.
Midgard moves into full guard.
Midgard wants to get back to his feet but Latham is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Midgard is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Latham stopping the sweep attempt from Midgard.
Latham passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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.
Midgard tries to bench press Latham off him but Latham keeps the position.
Midgard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Latham off and has taken his back!
Latham staying busy and making it hard for Midgard to control.
Latham breaks Midgard's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Midgard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Latham looking to sit in guard and control but Midgard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Latham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Midgard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Latham's head.
Midgard looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Latham will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Latham moves out of range as Midgard strikes.
Latham fails to land the takedown.
Midgard clinches but Latham breaks the clinch

and Latham counters with a single leg into guard. Midgard didn't expect that.
Midgard is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Midgard wants to sweep but no luck.

Midgard keeping busy on the bottom but Latham has passed one foot through into half guard.
Midgard trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Latham is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Latham with good strikes from the mount here!
Midgard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Latham working for a submission but Midgard is keeping him at bay.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Midgard sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Midgard is looking to improve his position.

Latham is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Latham is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Midgard looking for submissions off his back.
Midgard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Latham's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Latham's back!
Latham rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Midgard decides to stand up.
Midgard clinches but Latham breaks the clinch

and Latham holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Midgard tries a knee to the head but Latham blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Midgard.
Latham misses with a short punch on the inside.
Midgard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Midgard crunches a lovely knee into Latham's ribcage.
Midgard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Latham lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Midgard lands a damaging elbow.
Midgard lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Midgard.
Midgard tries to land knees in the clinch but Latham avoids the damage to the body.
Latham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Latham - that landed with a thud.
Latham misses with a knee to the head.
Latham takes a shot to the head.
Latham throws a punch but it's blocked by Midgard.
Midgard misses with a knee to the head.
Midgard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Latham.
Latham throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Midgard blocks it with crossed arms.
Midgard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Latham blocks it with crossed arms.
Latham pushes Midgard back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Latham throws an elbow but misses.
Latham lands with a short shot to the head.
Latham has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Midgard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Midgard trying to land knees to the body.
Midgard lands a knee to the body.
Midgard missing with knees to the body.
Midgard lands with a right to the head.
Midgard crunches a lovely knee into Latham's ribcage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Latham is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Midgard gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Latham tries to land knees in the clinch but Midgard avoids the damage to the body.
Midgard landing knees to the body.
Midgard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Latham's face.
Midgard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Latham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Latham lands with a right to the head.
Latham has Midgard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Midgard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Latham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Latham drags the fight down to the ground.

Latham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Midgard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Midgard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mark Latham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Midgard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Latham knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Latham looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Latham is refusing to be controlled, as Midgard sits in half guard.
Midgard is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
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 Mark Latham will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Midgard fails with the takedown
and Latham counters with a series of strikes. Midgard will be more careful next time no doubt.
Latham circles away from the clinch attempt

and Latham counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Latham trying to control the position from guard on top but Midgard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Latham drops back looking for a leg! Midgard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Midgard manages to kick Latham off! Latham jumps back into Midgard's guard.
Midgard seems keen to control Latham's posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midgard is trying to keep Latham in close.
Latham stands and throws Midgard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Midgard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Midgard wants to get back to his feet but Latham drags him back down.

Latham working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Midgard sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Midgard is trying to maintain the position but Latham is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two 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.
Latham tries to pass the half guard into mount. Midgard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Midgard is trying to stand back up but Latham is controlling him
Midgard wants to get back to full guard.

Latham looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Midgard wants to improve his position but Latham is controlling well.

Midgard is defending against the submission attempts here by Latham.
Midgard tries to kick Latham off but Latham keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Latham is looking for a kimura here.
Latham is keen to just control but Midgard is a slippery customer.

Latham is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Midgard defends it well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Latham is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Midgard is just riding it out for now. Latham eventually gives up the hold.
Midgard gets back to full guard.

That's four 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.

Latham drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Midgard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Latham has Midgard in his guard.
Midgard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Latham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Midgard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Midgard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Latham keeping full guard, as Midgard tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Latham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Latham, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight for Mark Latham!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Mark Latham!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Mark Latham!

Mark Latham wins by unanimous decision!