PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antero Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miro Bang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mela
vs
Bang

175 cm
23
216 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

200 cm
20
214 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

GREEN!160

Urban Fighter
KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antero Mela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Miro Bang!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bang closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bang lands in his opponent's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Mela's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Mela might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Bang drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mela looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mela looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mela!

Mela throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bang tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bang felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Mela has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Mela is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bang has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bang tries to bench press Mela off him but Mela keeps the position.
Bang pushes Mela away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Mela gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bang tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mela presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Bang is squirming around, avoiding Mela's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bang slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mela is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mela works his way into side control.
Bang tries to improve position but can't.
Mela lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bang down.
Mela working the head with strikes.
Bang is looking for a sweep.
Mela has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Bang!
Bang is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mela landing punches.
Bang is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bang is still trying to improve position.
Bang slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bang trying to get back to full guard but Mela takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Mela raining down shots from the mount!
Bang is trying to escape the mount.
Mela connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Mela has hold of Bang's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bang manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mela unloading with bombs!

Bang is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bang is desperately trying to improve his position but Mela has a good base and remains in mount.
Mela looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Bang covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antero Mela!