PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Willis Melton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Mikel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Melton
vs
Mikel

186 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 Helsinki, Willis Melton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Mikel!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mikel but Mikel pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Mikel clinches with his opponent.
Mikel slowing the pace effectively.

Mikel manages to pull guard.
Melton wants to stand but Mikel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mikel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melton wants to stand but Mikel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Melton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mikel keeping moving, preventing Melton from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Melton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Melton tries to clinch there but Mikel circles away.

Melton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Melton takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Melton stops Mikel from getting back to his feet.
Melton sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melton is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Mikel manages to get to full guard.
Melton trying to control the position from guard on top but Mikel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Melton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mikel trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mikel trying to strike off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Melton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mikel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Melton somewhat.

Mikel drives through with a takedown into Melton's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Melton working a defensive guard here.
Mikel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Melton has a closed guard, preventing Mikel from standing up.
Mikel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mikel wants to control from the top but Melton keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mikel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mikel is looking to stand up but Melton won't let him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Melton really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mikel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Mikel gets a takedown into half guard.
Melton regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Mikel dominated that round.
That's time! Melton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Melton wants to clinch.

Melton moves into the clinch.
Mikel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Mikel pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikel seems keen to control Melton's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mikel is on top in guard.

Melton is trying to keep Mikel in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Melton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melton keeping moving, preventing Mikel from controlling successfully.
Mikel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mikel trying to control the position from guard on top but Melton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mikel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mikel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Melton is proving hard to escape from.
Mikel tries to free his leg and advance position but Melton is retaining full guard.
Paul Mikel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melton controlling Mikel's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Mikel lands a left and a right that send Melton crashing to the mat, dazed. Mikel thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Melton is rocked!

It looks like Willis Melton has been cut.

Mikel rushes Melton and presses him up against the cage.
Oh Melton is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mikel stalling.

Mikel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Melton is aggressively charging in as Mikel backs up avoiding any damage. Mikel tosses out a jab and Melton runs right into it face first! Melton is out cold! Mikel dropped down on all fours and is barking in Melton's face like a pit bull in celebration until the ref was finally able to pull him away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Paul Mikel!