PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antero Mela has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Matthews
vs
Mela

205 cm
21
200 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

175 cm
22
216 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antero Mela!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mela throws the left hand but Matthews avoids the punch easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Matthews misses the target.
Mela pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've been hearing reports that Matthews has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Matthews throws a combination. Mela tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A shot to the body from Matthews misses

and Mela counters with a shoot takedown. Matthews fights it but they end up in guard.
Mela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mela controlling from the top position.
Matthews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matthews knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mela on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mela's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mela throws a big elbow that misses.
Mela is looking to work some ground and pound but Matthews has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela controls from within his opponent's guard.
Let's hope that Mela has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Matthews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mela, pushing him back against the cage.
Mela is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A frustrated look appears on Matthews's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mela drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Matthews gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mela drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mike Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antero Mela.

Mela has clasped his hands together around Matthews's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela throws an elbow but Matthews slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mela in side control, throwing shots but Matthews defends.

Mela tries for a kimura but Matthews is defending well.
Matthews is trying to improve his position.
Matthews dodges the ground and pound from Mela.

Mela is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matthews knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mela content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Mela misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Matthews taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mela is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Matthews's shoulder. That is not cool.

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.
Mela trying to control the position but Matthews is working away.
Matthews wants to control but Mela postures up.
Mela throws an elbow but Matthews slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mela misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
You can see the frustration on Matthews's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Mela is trying to get an arm triangle but Matthews is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews dodges the ground and pound from Mela.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Mela dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matthews connects with a nice looking jab.
Mela throws a shot from downtown. Matthews moves away and avoids it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mela.
Matthews takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Matthews moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Matthews tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mela counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Mela is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mela controlling the action here.
Mela is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ground and pound from Mela.
Mela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mela has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matthews's head.
Mela sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matthews's head.
Mela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mela is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela thows a huge punch but Matthews dodges it nicely.
Mela is controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matthews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mela counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mela postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mela is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mela's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Mela is looking to work some ground and pound but Matthews has wrist control.
Mela lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Matthews's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Antero Mela!
Mike Matthews was interviewed post fight and said 'I will take alot from this loss, but a rematch is on the cards, maybe next time he wont be so lucky'.