PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mayo Kermode (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roope Latvala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Latvala's choice of entrance music: Children of Bodom - Tie my rope. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kermode
vs
Latvala

185 cm
28
220 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

190 cm
26
212 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

The Big Kabosh

Milwaukee's Best 160
Zipp Zapp

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 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mayo Kermode!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roope Latvala!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Latvala throws a lazy right hand but Kermode sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Latvala throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kermode counters by clinching up.
Kermode swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kermode lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Latvala or not.
Latvala blocks the elbow strike.
Latvala wants to take the fight to the mat but Kermode manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Latvala pulls guard.
Latvala wants to control but Kermode passes easily into half guard.
Kermode is trying to control the action in half guard but Latvala is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kermode thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Latvala's head.
Well, if Kermode 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.
Latvala regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Latvala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kermode stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Latvala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kermode working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kermode throws an elbow that misses. Latvala uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kermode's guard. Nice move by Latvala!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kermode tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Latvala throws an elbow that misses. Kermode uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Latvala's guard. Nice move by Kermode!
Kermode trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kermode passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Latvala manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Latvala is nestled in close to Kermode, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kermode is looking for a sweep. Latvala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Latvala trying to control from half guard but Kermode is working away.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Latvala wants to work for an arm triangle but Kermode is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Latvala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Latvala is trying to control the action in half guard but Kermode is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Latvala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kermode is staying active underneath Latvala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Latvala prevents Kermode from improving his position.
Kermode is working hard here to advance position.
Latvala missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Latvala thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kermode is staying active underneath Latvala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Latvala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Latvala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Latvala is working for a kimura but Kermode is defending it quite comfortably.
Latvala trying to control the action but Kermode is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roope Latvala will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Latvala with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Latvala wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Latvala drops his hands momentarily and Kermode takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kermode avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Latvala circles away from the clinch attempt.
Latvala is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kermode.
Kermode scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kermode misses with an attempted mid kick.

Kermode instigates a clinch.
Kermode working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kermode scores with a shoulder strike.
Latvala's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kermode prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Latvala managing to block the knees to the body from Kermode.
A head punch on the inside from Kermode fails to land.
Latvala lands a shoulder strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kermode.
Kermode tries to work over Latvala's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kermode scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kermode throws a punch but it's blocked by Latvala.
Latvala blocks an elbow strike.
Latvala tries for a takedown. No joy.
Latvala looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kermode with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Latvala has a couple of punches blocked by Kermode.
Kermode tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Latvala avoids it.
Latvala misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A knee to the head by Kermode.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Latvala.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Latvala tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mayo Kermode has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roope Latvala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Latvala on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kermode as Latvala tries to tie him up.
Kermode lands an elbow inside that Latvala shrugs off.
Latvala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kermode unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Latvala managing to block the knees to the body from Kermode.
Kermode makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kermode misses with a knee strike.
Kermode lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kermode tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kermode tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Latvala blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Latvala taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kermode lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Latvala is trying to break the clinch but Kermode is controlling him.
Kermode landing knees to the head.
Kermode misses with the head strike.
Nice elbow from Kermode.
Kermode is working Latvala over against the cage.
Latvala misses with a body punch.
Latvala tries to throw a body punch but Kermode avoids it by throwing Latvala back against the cage.
Latvala managing to block the knees to the body from Kermode.
Mayo Kermode has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short left from Latvala.
Kermode tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kermode lands a knee to the head.
Kermode digs a right hand underneath Latvala's ribcage. Latvala let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Latvala is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Latvala taking a breather.
Knees to the body from Kermode.
Kermode lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kermode with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kermode lands a nice knee to the body.
Kermode lands with a short shot to the head.
Latvala managing to block the knees to the body from Kermode.
Kermode swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kermode has Latvala pressed against the cage, preventing Latvala from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kermode lands an elbow that stopped Latvala in his tracks for a moment.
Kermode creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Latvala's defenses.
Kermode swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kermode tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kermode prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kermode throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kermode lands an uppercut.
Kermode lands a nice elbow.
Latvala has a couple of punches blocked by Kermode.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mayo Kermode dominated that second round.
That's time! Kermode's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Latvala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Latvala connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kermode throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Latvala ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A punch combination from Kermode misses.
Latvala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Latvala circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fighters circling - Latvala throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kermode moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kermode lands a nice leg kick that just misses Latvala's sensitive parts.
Latvala ducks under a wild hook from Kermode.

Latvala gets tackled into the cage by Kermode. Kermode maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kermode misses with the head strike.
Kermode lands with a short shot to the head.
Kermode comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Latvala struggles to land a body shot inside as Kermode controls his hands.
Kermode connects with a knee to the head.
Latvala throws a punch but it's blocked by Kermode.
Kermode has a couple of punches blocked by Latvala.
Kermode misses with some punches.
Latvala slowing the pace effectively.
Latvala is trying to stall.
Kermode can't find room to land a body shot as Latvala controls the action.
Kermode working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Latvala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Latvala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Latvala circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kermode misses with a straight left.
Kermode wants to clinch up but Latvala keeps it at a distance.
Kermode lands a nice shot to the body.
Latvala looks to land a right hand but Kermode moved out of range.
We've been told by Kermode's head coaches at Elite Dojo [21 Coaches / 55 cap] that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kermode swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mayo Kermode seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Latvala connects with a leg kick. Kermode looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mayo Kermode is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Latvala moves out of range of the strikes.
Kermode misses with a low kick.

Kermode pushes Latvala up against the cage in a clinch.
Kermode is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latvala is trying to drag Kermode to the mat but Kermode just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Latvala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kermode is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Latvala is defending well for now.
Latvala has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kermode avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kermode.
Kermode lands a shot to the body.
Kermode makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kermode creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Latvala's defenses.
Still in the clinch, Kermode scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kermode missing with knees to the body.
Kermode stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kermode lands a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kermode drops Latvala with a big knee straight up the middle! Latvala is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Latvala is rocked!

Kermode closes the distance and clinches.
Latvala is still on wobbly legs! Can Kermode finish him?
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kermode.
Kermode scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kermode throws a big uppercut that drops Latvala! More strikes from Kermode and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Latvala lies dazed against the cage as Kermode celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mayo Kermode!
A victorious Mayo Kermode thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.