PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Finn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Finn's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Von Bondies - C'mon c'mon. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Finn
vs
O Neil

182 cm
42
173 lbs
40 - 20 - 1

187 cm
42
177 lbs
36 - 28 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Worldwide Nutrition (160q)
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 40 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey Finn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey O Neil!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Neil keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Finn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but O Neil avoids it really well and circles away.
O Neil slaps away a takedown attempt from Finn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mickey O Neil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Neil scores with a punch to the head.
O Neil throws a shot to the body.
O Neil swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Finn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
O Neil throws a one two combo.

It looks like Mickey Finn has been cut.
Finn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
O Neil misses with a wild body shot.
O Neil misses with a head kick.
O Neil looks to score with a jab to the body but Finn is just out of range.
Finn moves out of range as O Neil strikes.
Finn takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
O Neil throws a hook to the side of Finn's head but Finn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Finn is looking to clinch but O Neil is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil scores with a jab to the jaw.
O Neil lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Finn looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for O Neil!
Finn happy to just control the position for now.
O Neil takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Finn creates some space and throws a big elbow, but O Neil sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
O Neil tries to get back to half guard but can't.
O Neil avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Finn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finn trying to control the position but O Neil is working away.
Finn staying calm.
Finn working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Finn is putting a hurting on O Neil here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neil is not content to let Finn control the position.
O Neil is trying to get back to half guard.
Finn laying and praying for a moment but O Neil takes advantage and regains half guard.
O Neil tries to get to full guard but Finn has control of the leg.

That's four 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Finn 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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Finn connects with a nice short shot to O Neil's temple.
Finn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Finn's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finn wants to control but O Neil is keeping him busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mickey O Neil will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mickey Finn's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Finn closes the distance and pushes O Neil back into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from O Neil fails to land.

Finn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. O Neil darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Finn tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Neil swats him away and circles back towards the center.
O Neil missing with a left hand there. Finn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
O Neil throws a lazy uppercut
and Finn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
O Neil lands with a shot to the body.
O Neil rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Finn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
O Neil misses with a left hand
and Finn counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Finn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
O Neil throws a right and a left that both miss.
Finn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
O Neil scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Neil throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Finn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
O Neil bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Finn.
Finn walks into a stiff left hand from O Neil.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil lands a right hook to the body.
O Neil uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finn.
Finn moves out of range as O Neil strikes.
O Neil misses with a body punch
and Finn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mickey O Neil seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Neil takes a swing at Finn's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for O Neil, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Finn avoids the body shot from O Neil.
Finn staying out of range there.
Finn connects with a body shot.
O Neil misses with a double jab.
O Neil connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Finn momentarily.
O Neil has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
O Neil feints a jab promting Finn to slip. O Neil then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Finn slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil lands a nice shot to the body.
O Neil keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Finn.
Finn shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Finn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Finn has closed the distance and engaged O Neil in a clinch.

O Neil is fighting off a takedown attempt but Finn is just too persistent for him and manages to trip O Neil to the mat. O Neil regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
O Neil not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mickey Finn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Finn looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finn stopping the sweep attempt from O Neil.
O Neil is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Finn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
O Neil keeping full guard, as Finn tries to pass.
O Neil keeping moving, preventing Finn from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Finn misses with a hook
and O Neil makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Finn throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. O Neil tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Finn is in O Neil's guard.
Finn trying to control the position from guard on top but O Neil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
O Neil looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Finn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Finn trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.
O Neil controls Finn momentarily but Finn frees himself.
Finn not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mickey O Neil will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mickey Finn's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

O Neil is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Finn.
O Neil avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Finn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts O Neil as he jumps to the side.

O Neil gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Finn to score an easy takedown into full guard.
O Neil looking to control but Finn passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finn working over O Neil with some ground and pound. O Neil looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Finn not doing much here.
O Neil is looking for a sweep. Finn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
O Neil on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Finn stalling away here and it's allowed O Neil to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Finn trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.
O Neil working a defensive guard here.
Mickey O Neil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Finn trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.
Finn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. O Neil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Finn.
Left hook, right uppercut from O Neil.
Finn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? O Neil is fending him off so far but Finn persists. Nope, O Neil circles away and we're back to standing.
Finn swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finn pushes O Neil up against the cage in a clinch.
O Neil wants to get back to striking at distance but Finn won't allow it.
A bit of stalling here from Finn.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
O Neil effectively controlling the action here.

Finn manages to break the clinch.
O Neil throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Finn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Finn wants to clinch but O Neil slips to the side
and O Neil counters with a two punch combo.

Finn closes the distance and clinches.

O Neil manages to break the clinch.
O Neil lands with a right hand.
Finn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
O Neil lands with an uppercut that bounces Finn off the cage and back into range.
O Neil throws a hook to the side of Finn's head but Finn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil lands a nice hook to Finn's body. Finn takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Finn tries for a takedown but O Neil circles away easily
letting O Neil counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Finn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Finn closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. O Neil quickly recovers to half guard.
O Neil is looking to escape.
O Neil is looking to improve his position.
Finn trying to control the action but O Neil is working from the bottom.
Finn takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mickey Finn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Finn is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mickey O Neil.
I've got O Neil winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mickey O Neil!
Mickey O Neil thanked the fans post fight for their support.