PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Micky Oniel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pok Mat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Oniel
vs
Mat

187 cm
23
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Micky Oniel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pok Mat!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Oniel with that takedown attempt.
Mat unleashes a big counter combination but Oniel bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A lazy left from Oniel finds it's target.
Some wild striking there from Oniel.
Oniel tests Mat's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Mat moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mat has had enough of the clinch but Oniel keeps him there for the moment.
Mat slows down the pace here.
Oniel misses with a punch to the body.

Mat pulls Oniel into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oniel tries to free his leg and advance position but Mat is retaining full guard.
Oniel wants to stand but Mat has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mat wants to stand up but Oniel is controlling him.
Oniel wants to control from the top but Mat keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mat has his foot on Oniel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Oniel works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mat working for a triangle but Oniel defends it easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Oniel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Oniel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mat looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mat slips a jab and a cross from Oniel.
Micky Oniel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oniel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Oniel has been working on his balance at Foot Loves, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Mat.
Mat slips a jab and a cross from Oniel.
Mat gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Oniel shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Oniel coming out on top.

Mat moves into range and clinches up with Oniel.
Mat lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mat has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Oniel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Oniel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Oniel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Oniel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Oniel tries to break the clinch but Mat is controlling the position.

Oniel manages to break the clinch.

Mat moves into the clinch.
Oniel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Oniel is trying to break the clinch but Mat is controlling him.
Oniel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mat has him pressed against the cage.
Mat lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Oniel wants to stall.
Mat keeps control of Oniel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mat tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Oniel smiles and moves away.
Oniel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oniel throws a jab when Mat was well out of range.
As Oniel backs off Mat throws a huge counter combo but Oniel manages to avoid it all.

Mat moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Oniel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mat is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micky Oniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mat working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oniel throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mat.
Mat blocks an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A frustrated look appears on Mat's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Mat breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Oniel throws a combination. Mat tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Oniel throws a series of punches but Mat avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micky Oniel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mat tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Oniel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mat sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Oniel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mat is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Oniel bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mat's head.

Mat gets a clinch.
Mat tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mat blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mat.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oniel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oniel has a takedown stuffed.
Oniel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mat as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micky Oniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mat moves into the clinch.
Oniel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mat lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Mat on the inside.
Mat prevents Oniel from breaking the clinch.
Mat wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Oniel scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mat can't break the clinch.
Oniel is trying to break free.
Oniel avoids a wild elbow strike from Mat.
Mat keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Oniel's efforts to push away.

Mat jumps into guard, dragging Oniel to the mat.
Oniel wants to get up but he can't break Mat's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oniel trying to control but Mat is working from the bottom.
Oniel is looking to stand up but Mat won't let him.

Mat kicks Oniel off and gets to his feet.
Oniel dives in and grabs Mat's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mat pushes down on Oniel's head and hops out.
Mat raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Mat fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Oniel, pushing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oniel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mat.
Oniel working hard to break the clinch.
Oniel looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mat misses with an elbow strike.
Mat pushes Oniel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oniel has a couple of punches blocked by Mat.
Mat drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mat blocking some punches.
Oniel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Oniel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Oniel is trying to push Mat away but Mat has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mat lands with a short shot to the head.
Oniel swings wildly with an uppercut but Mat uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oniel tries to circle away but Mat has him pinned against the cage.
Oniel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mat is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Mat breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oniel scores with a sloppy right hand. Mat should have avoided that one.

Mat rushes Oniel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mat gets underhooks to prevent Oniel's takedown attempt.
Mat has Oniel pressed against the cage.
Mat is breathing heavily.
Oniel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Oniel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Mat breaks from the clinch.
A big left from Oniel misses.
Oniel scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mat walks into a jab.
Mat shoots in but Oniel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Oniel half committed to a counter leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pok Mat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Oniel misses with a wild combination.
Oniel throws a combination that misses

and Mat counters by clinching up.
Mat tries to circle away but Oniel has him pinned against the cage.
Oniel wants to break free but Mat has control.
Oniel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mat lands with a short shot to the head.
Mat lands with a right to the head.
Oniel is trying to force a seperation but Mat has the dominant position.
Oniel is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mat is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mat keeps control of Oniel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mat scores with a nice hook to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Oniel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mat lands with a left to the head.

Mat manages to break the clinch.
Oniel throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mat keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Oniel.
Mat fails with a takedown attempt.

Mat pushes Oniel up against the cage in a clinch.
Mat holding his opponent close, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Oniel.
Mat blocks an uppercut.
Mat tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Oniel smiles and moves away.
Mat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Oniel throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oniel lands the left hand.
Oniel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oniel shoots in for a takedown but Mat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Oniel is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mat ducks under a wild hook from Oniel.
Micky Oniel is winning the standup battle so far.

Mat has managed to clinch.
Mat effectively controlling the action here.
Oniel is trying to break the clinch but Mat is controlling him.
Oniel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A nice left hand lands by Mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Oniel fails to land.
Oniel has a couple of punches blocked by Mat.
Oniel is looking to break free of the clinch but Mat has double underhooks.
Oniel tries to break free but Mat pushes him back against the cage.
Mat lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oniel is working for takedown but Mat is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micky Oniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mat escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mat takes the fight into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mat lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Oniel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Mat breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mat closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mat moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mat shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Mat moves into the clinch.

Mat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mat takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oniel cracks Mat with an open hand slap.
Oniel scores with a kick to the body.
Good exchange - Oniel coming out on top.
Oniel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mat sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mat with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Oniel to score with a decent uppercut.
Oniel cracks Mat with a right hand to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Micky Oniel.
I think Oniel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Micky Oniel!
A relieved looking Micky Oniel thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.