PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Mack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Tr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mikel Mack has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mack
vs
Tr

220 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikel Mack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maxim Tr!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mack fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Mack.
Tr throws a sloppy head kick and Mack moves out of range easily.
Mack throws a series of punches but Tr moves out of range.

Tr forces Mack back against the cage and clinches.
Mack is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mack just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tr is trying to push Mack away but Mack has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tr is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mikel Mack has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Tr.
Tr has Mack pressed against the cage, preventing Mack from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mack gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tr blocks an uppercut.
Tr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mack just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mack is trying to break the clinch but Tr has him pressed against the cage.
Mack tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Tr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tr clinches with his opponent.

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.
Mack stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mack really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mack prevents Tr from breaking the clinch.
Mack is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tr tries to pull guard but Mack holds him up against the cage and eventually Tr drops back down to his feet.

Tr decides to pull guard.
Tr wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Mack is now in half guard.
Mack content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tr is looking for a sweep. Mack is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tr wants to get back to his feet.
Tr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mack is working away from the top position though.
Mack will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mack controlling the action here.

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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No joy there for Tr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tr swings widly with a right hand

and Mack moves into the clinch.

Mack manages to break the clinch.

Tr clinches up against the cage.
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 Mikel Mack will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tr is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mack sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tr darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mack moves into full guard.
Mack doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Tr trying to control but Mack is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mack keeping full guard, as Tr tries to pass.
Mack wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tr wants to get up but he can't break Mack's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mack working a defensive guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tr wants to control from the top but Mack keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mack circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tr.
Tr misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tr is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mack gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mikel Mack has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Tr.
Mack has a couple of punches blocked by Tr.
Tr is looking for a takedown.
Mack wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mack tries to circle away but Tr has him pinned against the cage.
Tr wants to stall.
Mack tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tr goes for a takedown attempt but Mack pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Mack shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tr's guard.
Tr is breathing heavily.
Tr being controlled here, momentarily.

Tr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mack working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tr is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mack trying to control the position from guard on top but Tr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tr lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mack is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
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 Mikel Mack 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!

Mack misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Tr fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mack, pushing him back against the cage.
Mack goes for a takedown attempt but Tr pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mack feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Trs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Tr shoots in but Mack avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Tr closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tr goes for a takedown attempt but Mack pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Tr has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tr is trying to pull guard but Mack turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mikel Mack has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Tr.

Tr breaks the clinch.
A combination from Tr does no damage.

Tr forces Mack back against the cage and clinches.
Tr jumps guard but Mack stands there with Tr around his waist. Tr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mack as Tr tries to tie him up.
Mack scores with a shoulder strike.
Tr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mack just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mack has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tr is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mack is defending well for now.
Tr is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mack gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mack breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tr throws a solid leg kick but Mack takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tr.
Mack fails with a takedown attempt.
Mack throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Tr doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Mack to counter with a crisp jab.
Mack fails with the takedown.
Mack stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mack shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mack was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Mack wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tr, who protects the arm well.
Mack passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Tr!
Mikel Mack overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mack trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mack controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikel Mack showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mack, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mikel Mack!