PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed Lakhel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mohamed Lakhel will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Simon
vs
Lakhel

173 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Patrick Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohamed Lakhel!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simon looks to score with a jab to the body but Lakhel is just out of range.
Lakhel wants to counter the offense by Simon and move into the clinch position.
Simon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A looping hook to the body misses from Simon. Lakhel does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Simon backs off Lakhel throws a huge counter combo but Simon manages to avoid it all.

Simon drives through and clinches with Lakhel against the cage.
Lakhel wants to get back to striking at distance but Simon won't allow it.

Lakhel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Simon clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lakhel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Simon has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lakhel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Simon closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon has Lakhel pressed against the cage, preventing Lakhel from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lakhel tries to circle away but Simon has him pinned against the cage.

Lakhel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Simon throws a front kick aimed at Lakhel's knee but Lakhel avoids it well.

Simon closes the distance and clinches.

Lakhel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lakhel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Simon.
Simon misses with a low kick.
Lakhel is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Simon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lakhel circles away.
Lakhel throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Simon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simon clinches with his opponent.

Simon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Simon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lakhel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Simon.
Lakhel is looking for the big counter here.
Simon goes for a double leg but Lakhel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lakhel continues to drive forward.
Lakhel blocks a head kick by Simon.
Lakhel is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Simon closes the distance and clinches.

Lakhel breaks from the clinch.
Simon fails with a takedown attempt.
Simon is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simon gets a clinch.

Lakhel breaks from the clinch.

Simon has Lakhel up against the cage in a clinch.
Lakhel is pressed up against the cage. Simon has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lakhel down to the mat. Lakhel avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Simon looks for the body kick but Lakhel saw that one coming.
Lakhel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Simon.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Simon.
Lakhel is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lakhel leaves Simon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Simon backs off Lakhel throws a huge counter combo but Simon manages to avoid it all.

Simon clinches up with Lakhel and pushes him back against the cage.

Lakhel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Simon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lakhel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon throws out a leg kick but Lakhel moves out of range and Simon only half commits.
Lakhel slaps away a takedown attempt from Simon, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lakhel is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Simon dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Simon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lakhel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Simon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lakhel as he jumps to the side.
Simon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simon falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lakhel counters with a series of strikes. Simon will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lakhel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lakhel throws a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Simon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lakhel as he jumps to the side.
Lakhel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Simon.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Simon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Lakhel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lakhel tries to avoid it but Simon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lakhel to the ground. Lakhel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lakhel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Simon.
Simon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Simon backs off Lakhel throws a huge counter combo but Simon manages to avoid it all.
Simon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lakhel tries to avoid it but Simon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lakhel to the ground. Lakhel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Simon throws a series of punches but Lakhel avoids them all with ease.
Despite the aggression on Lakhel's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Simon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Simon has his takedown stuffed

and Lakhel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Lakhel manages to break the clinch.
Simon looks for a takedown but Lakhel sprawls well.
Simon shoots for a takedown but Lakhel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lakhel unleashes a big counter combination but Simon bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Simon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lakhel, pushing him back against the cage.

Lakhel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Simon shoots for a takedown but Lakhel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mohamed Lakhel seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simon gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lakhel breaks from the clinch.
Simon throws a sloppy head kick and Lakhel moves out of range easily.
Lakhel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Simon.

Simon closes the distance and clinches.

Lakhel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simon throws a lazy head kick
and Lakhel counters with a one-two to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Simon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lakhel moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lakhel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Simon closes the distance and pushes Lakhel back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohamed Lakhel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Simon fails to land the takedown.
Simon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lakhel's waist but Lakhel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Simon off to one side.
Simon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lakhel's waist but Lakhel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Simon off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Simon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simon fails with a takedown attempt.
Lakhel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simon throws the kick towards the body but Lakhel avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for Simon with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon shoots in for a takedown but Lakhel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lakhel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lakhel changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Lakhel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Simon clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lakhel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Simon is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lakhel.
Lakhel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Simon.
Patrick Simon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simon throws out a loose jab but Lakhel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lakhel lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Simon doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lakhel counters with a three punch combo that has Simon backing up. Simon nods at Lakhel to acknowledge the strikes.

Simon has managed to clinch.

Lakhel breaks from the clinch.
Simon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Simon throws a solid leg kick but Lakhel takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Simon.
Lakhel tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lakhel avoids the body shot from Simon.
Simon misses with a wild combination.
Lakhel wants to counter with a clinch but Simon pushes him away.
Simon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lakhel counters with a left and a right that stings Simon.
Simon just misses with a punch to the body.
Lakhel is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Simon rushes Lakhel and presses him up against the cage.

Lakhel breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simon moves into the clinch.

Lakhel breaks the clinch.
Simon dives in for a single leg takedown but Lakhel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Simon rushes Lakhel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Lakhel breaks the clinch.
Simon dives in and grabs Lakhel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lakhel pushes down on Simon's head and hops out.
Despite the aggression on Lakhel's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Simon misses with a body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon shoots in and drives through. Lakhel sprawls well.
Lakhel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Simon defends it well.

Lakhel gets tackled into the cage by Simon. Simon maintains the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mohamed Lakhel.
I think Lakhel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Mohamed Lakhel!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Mohamed Lakhel!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Mohamed Lakhel!

Mohamed Lakhel wins by unanimous decision!