PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manu Mikkonen (ranked 4879 p4p, 475 weight class) and Buel Samuel (ranked 4858 p4p, 472 weight class). Mikkonen comes to the cage accompanied by When Worlds Collide. Samuel has chosen Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Manu Mikkonen had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mikkonen
vs
Samuel

195 cm
19
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
254 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Real Men Supplements

Pit Bull Development
WarHorse Fightwear

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manu Mikkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buel Samuel!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Mikkonen misses

so Samuel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Samuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Mikkonen is retaining full guard.
Mikkonen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Samuel wants to control from the top but Mikkonen keeps moving.
Samuel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mikkonen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Samuel won't allow Mikkonen to get back to his feet.

Samuel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Samuel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mikkonen managing to control the position.
Mikkonen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mikkonen tries to get out of the position.
Mikkonen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikkonen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mikkonen continues to stall.
Mikkonen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
More hug and hope from Mikkonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samuel drops back looking for a leg! Mikkonen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mikkonen manages to kick Samuel off! Samuel jumps back into Mikkonen's guard.
Mikkonen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Samuel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Samuel wants to control from the top but Mikkonen keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Manu Mikkonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good leg kick by Mikkonen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Mikkonen lands a big head kick that sends Samuel tumbling to the mat! Mikkonen takes a step backwards and waves Samuel back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Buel Samuel has been cut.
Mikkonen looks to land a right hand but Samuel moved out of range.
Mikkonen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A nice side step and Samuel releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mikkonen swings for the body but Samuel moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samuel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mikkonen.
Mikkonen misses with a looping left.
Mikkonen walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Samuel drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Mikkonen swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Samuel's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manu Mikkonen!
Manu Mikkonen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
In defeat, Buel Samuel stepped up to the mic, saying 'The trouble with being a good sport is that you have to lose to prove it'.