PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike The Shark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holy Diver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Shark comes to the cage accompanied by Still. Diver has chosen Holy Diver by Dio as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Mike The Shark has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

The Shark
vs
Diver

179 cm
28
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

161 cm
29
174 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Determined

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike The Shark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Holy Diver!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Shark scores with a jab.
The Shark throws a right hand that Diver ducks under and follows up with a left that Diver also avoids with ease.
Diver doesn't succeed with the takedown
and The Shark counters with a stiff right hand.

Diver feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diver accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The Shark manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

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

The Shark has closed the distance and engaged Diver in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diver has The Shark pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. The Shark manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The Shark misses with a hook to the ribs.
Diver is trying to drag The Shark to the mat but The Shark just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mike The Shark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Holy Diver.

The Shark breaks from the clinch.
Diver misses with a wild combination.
The Shark connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Diver momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Shark misses with a takedown attempt - Diver sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The Shark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The Shark throws out a powerful jab.
Diver tries for a takedown but The Shark sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Diver gets the takedown into side control.

Diver is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. The Shark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Diver looking to punish the body of his opponent here but The Shark is avoiding damage well.
The Shark parries the strikes from Diver easily there. Diver is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable The Shark to escape.
Diver trying to control the position but The Shark is working away.
Diver tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diver wants to control but The Shark is keeping him busy.
Diver working away.
Who's going to make the next move?
The Shark managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diver.
The Shark wants to get back to his feet but Diver drags him back down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diver tries to score with some ground and pound. The Shark controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Diver throwing strikes but The Shark manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diver is not content to let The Shark control the position.
The Shark working the ground and pound but Diver is defending the strikes.

The Shark decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Diver shoots in for a takedown but The Shark shows good takedown defense.
The Shark scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Holy Diver has been cut.
Diver with a poor takedown
and The Shark counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diver blocks a head kick by The Shark.
The Shark scores with the left hand. Diver knows he should have avoided that one.
The Shark lands a jab to the head.

Diver is rocked!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Diver shoots in and gets a takedown into The Shark's guard.

The Shark manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice straight punches there by The Shark. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of The Shark.
Diver is still on wobbly legs! Can The Shark finish him?
Diver shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as The Shark sprawls well. The Shark wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Diver gets slowly back to his feet.
The Shark throwing a counter right hand but Diver manages to avoid it.
Diver seems to have recovered his senses.
The Shark is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The Shark rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Diver counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Diver.
A shot in the inside from The Shark.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Diver as The Shark tries to tie him up.
The Shark stops a takedown attempt from Diver.
Diver jumps guard but The Shark turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

The Shark's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diver shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Diver wants to clinch up but The Shark keeps it at a distance.
Diver dodges the punch combination from The Shark.
Diver feints the counter takedown.
Diver shoots in for a double leg but The Shark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The Shark swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Diver closes this distance looking for a takedown but The Shark circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike The Shark dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Holy Diver's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Diver shoots in for a takedown but The Shark shows good takedown defense.
Holy Diver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diver.
The Shark was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The Shark scores with a nice strike.
Holy Diver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The Shark gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diver tries to score a body lock takedown but The Shark shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mike The Shark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Holy Diver.
The Shark is pushing Diver up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The Shark lands a shoulder strike.

The Shark breaks from the clinch.
The Shark lands with a nice combination. Diver backs away looking to recover.
The Shark jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The Shark is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Diver moves out of range of the leg kick from The Shark.

Diver gets the takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diver throws an elbow but The Shark slips to the side and avoids it well.
The Shark defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Shark is looking to reverse the position.
The ground and pound from Diver seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The Shark taking punishment in the form of punches.
Diver in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Diver throws a strike aimed at the side of The Shark's head but The Shark avoids it well.
Diver throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and The Shark works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Diver is keen to just control but The Shark is a slippery customer.
The Shark regains full guard. Nicely done.
Diver throws a strike but The Shark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diver looking to hit a scissor sweep but The Shark is one step ahead there.
The Shark slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The Shark trying to control the position but Diver is working away.
Diver gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The Shark controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Shark swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike The Shark!
Mike The Shark tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.