PBP Commentary

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

Mikel
vs
Unreal

175 cm
22
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

177 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Mikel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Latham Unreal!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikel tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Unreal defends well and Mikel ends up having to push Unreal into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Unreal tries to clinch
and Mikel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Unreal thinking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Unreal.
Unreal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mikel as he jumps to the side.
Mikel goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Latham Unreal has been cut.
Unreal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mikel swivels and escapes.
A quick step to the side and Mikel tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Paul Mikel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Latham Unreal.
Mikel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Unreal's sensitive parts.
Unreal avoids a kick to the body.

Mikel instigates a clinch.
Unreal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mikel breaks the clinch.
Unreal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mikel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mikel appears to be looking for a big counter.
Unreal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mikel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Unreal tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from Unreal. Those never looked like landing.

Unreal feints and as Mikel raises his hands in defense, Unreal changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Unreal looking to pass the guard.
Unreal passes Mikel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Unreal keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Unreal is keen to just control but Mikel is a slippery customer.
Mikel is looking for a sweep. Unreal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Unreal is stalling here. Mikel is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Unreal seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Mikel has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Mikel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Unreal on the ground.
Unreal prevents Mikel from moving into mount.
Mikel throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Unreal holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Unreal sneaks back into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mikel is keen to just control but Unreal is a slippery customer.
Mikel trying to mount his opponent but Unreal defends it.
Unreal is trying to maintain the position but Mikel is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Unreal tries to kick Mikel off but Mikel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Unreal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mikel circles away quickly and effectively.
Unreal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mikel counters with a stiff right hand.
Unreal throws a sloppy head kick
and Mikel counters with a left and a right that stings Unreal.

Unreal is rocked!
Mikel throws a right and a left that Unreal avoids nicely.
Unreal is still on wobbly legs! Can Mikel finish him?
A thudding body kick lands there by Mikel!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mikel has Unreal up against the cage in a clinch.
Unreal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mikel lands a hook that snaps the head of Unreal backwards.
Unreal is trying to drag Mikel to the mat but Mikel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mikel lands a body punch.

Mikel decides to pull guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Mikel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Unreal seems to have recovered his senses.
Unreal has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mikel is proving hard to escape from.
Mikel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Unreal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mikel is keeping the position for now.
Mikel is looking to sweep but instead, Unreal has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Mikel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Latham Unreal's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mikel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Unreal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mikel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Unreal. No joy for Mikel on that attempt.
Despite the aggression on Unreal's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Mikel misses with a takedown attempt - Unreal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mikel goes for a double leg but Unreal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Unreal continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Mikel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Unreal defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mikel rushes Unreal and presses him up against the cage.
Unreal is working for takedown but Mikel is calmly controlling the position for now.
A frustrated look appears on Unreal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mikel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Unreal can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Unreal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Mikel has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Unreal uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Unreal is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Unreal wants to stand but Mikel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Unreal advances position into side control!
Unreal happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikel is looking for a sweep.
Unreal trying to control the action but Mikel is working from the bottom.

Unreal tries for a kimura but Mikel is defending well.
Unreal throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikel is not content to let Unreal control the position.
Latham Unreal has got the better of the ground game so far.

Unreal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Unreal wants to control but Mikel is keeping him busy.
Unreal might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mikel haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mikel can't do much from the bottom here.
Unreal tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Unreal in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Mikel is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Latham Unreal!