PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Mikovic (ranked 6156 p4p, 600 weight class) and Yoenis Gaviria (ranked 7586 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Mikovic has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mikovic
vs
Gaviria

186 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Mikovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoenis Gaviria!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gaviria pushes Mikovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaviria stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gaviria is looking to control Mikovic's arms but Mikovic gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gaviria has his back to the cage.

Gaviria has hold of one of Mikovic's legs. Mikovic is fighting the takedown attempt but Gaviria gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Mikovic looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gaviria trying to control but Mikovic is working from the bottom.

Mikovic pushes Gaviria off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaviria moves in looking to clinch but Mikovic pushes him off.
Mikovic leaves Gaviria with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaviria swats away the attempt to clinch by Mikovic.
No luck for Mikovic with that takedown attempt.
Gaviria tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mikovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mikovic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gaviria.
Gaviria tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mikovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mikovic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gaviria defends it nicely.
Mikovic backing away here, and Gaviria unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Mikovic has closed the distance and engaged Gaviria in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaviria ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gaviria no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mikovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaviria is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mikovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gaviria works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mikovic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mikovic forces his way into half guard.
Mikovic wants to stand up but Gaviria has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Mikovic sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaviria tries to get to full guard but Mikovic has control of the leg.
Mikovic moves nicely into side control.
Gaviria seems a little lost for a moment, as Mikovic dominates the positioning.
Mikovic is looking to take a break and control but Gaviria is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gaviria can't do much from the bottom here.

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

Mikovic stands up and beckons Gaviria to his feet.
Gaviria circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gaviria tries to counter by closing the distance.
Mikovic stuffs the takedown.
Ivan Mikovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoenis Gaviria.
A head kick from Mikovic lands but Gaviria takes it in his stride.

Gaviria gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mikovic gets control of Gaviria's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mikovic will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Mikovic has his foot on Gaviria's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gaviria works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaviria controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gaviria trying to control but Mikovic is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Mikovic dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gaviria throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gaviria avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mikovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mikovic blocks an elbow strike.

Mikovic has Gaviria pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mikovic pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gaviria tumbling to the mat - Mikovic dives into Gaviria's guard.
Gaviria really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mikovic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikovic struggling a bit here.
Mikovic is holding Gaviria down, trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaviria happy to just control the position for now.
Mikovic manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mikovic is trying to control. Gaviria wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gaviria blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mikovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaviria trying to control but Mikovic postures up.
Gaviria flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Mikovic postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Gaviria to stand up.
Mikovic fails to land the takedown.
No luck for Mikovic with that takedown attempt.
Gaviria throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mikovic's waist but Mikovic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gaviria off to one side.
Mikovic appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikovic throws the kick towards the body but Gaviria avoids it.
Gaviria changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mikovic tries to avoid it but Gaviria manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mikovic to the ground. Mikovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Mikovic feints and as Gaviria raises his hands in defense, Mikovic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mikovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaviria is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mikovic advances position into side control!

Mikovic decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gaviria to his feet.
Gaviria circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gaviria counters with a left and a right that stings Mikovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaviria avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gaviria looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mikovic is fending him off so far but Gaviria persists. Nope, Mikovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Ivan Mikovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoenis Gaviria.
Gaviria is looking to clinch.

Mikovic drives through and clinches with Gaviria against the cage.

Gaviria breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A solid leg kick lands there for Gaviria.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaviria fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mikovic scores with a decent looking hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mikovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Mikovic dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mikovic throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gaviria was covering up waiting for the punch and Mikovic finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gaviria looking to control.
Mikovic trying to control but Gaviria is working from the bottom.
Mikovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gaviria can do to turn this around?
Mikovic works over Gaviria with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gaviria is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mikovic presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Gaviria decides to pull guard.
Mikovic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaviria had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mikovic defends it easily.
Gaviria takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mikovic slips nicely into half guard.
Still in half guard, Mikovic seems content to control.

Mikovic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaviria controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mikovic not doing much here.
Gaviria wants to get back to his feet.
Mikovic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gaviria tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mikovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gaviria somewhat.
Gaviria tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mikovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gaviria somewhat.
Mikovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gaviria circles away.
Gaviria is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters circling a little - Mikovic finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gaviria moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mikovic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gaviria misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mikovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mikovic leaves Gaviria with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ivan Mikovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoenis Gaviria.
Mikovic displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gaviria fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mikovic, pushing him back against the cage.
Yoenis Gaviria has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Mikovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mikovic pulls guard successfully.
Mikovic tries to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Mikovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mikovic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Mikovic!