PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Sjoberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralf Mittendorf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mikael Sjoberg had a look across the ring there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sjoberg
vs
Mittendorf

186 cm
22
209 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

220 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikael Sjoberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ralf Mittendorf!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mittendorf throws a sloppy head kick and Sjoberg moves out of range easily.
Sjoberg blocks a head kick by Mittendorf.
Mittendorf lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mittendorf lands with a slapping head kick.

Sjoberg gets a takedown into half guard.
Sjoberg stops Mittendorf from getting back to his feet.
Mittendorf flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mittendorf is trying to maintain the position but Sjoberg is very close to passing his half guard.
Sjoberg wants to control but Mittendorf is keeping him busy.
Sjoberg stops Mittendorf from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Mittendorf trying to control but Sjoberg postures up.
Mittendorf tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Sjoberg is trying to control the action in half guard but Mittendorf is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mittendorf is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mittendorf thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mittendorf misses with a head kick.
Mittendorf moves in looking to clinch but Sjoberg pushes him off.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sjoberg.
Mittendorf is trying to control Sjoberg's posture but Sjoberg avoids it.
Mittendorf throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Sjoberg cracks Mittendorf with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sjoberg working away.
Sjoberg in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sjoberg lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mittendorf down.
Sjoberg landing strikes.
Mittendorf is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sjoberg is controlling him well.

Sjoberg tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mittendorf wants to control but Sjoberg postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sjoberg tries for a kimura but Mittendorf is defending well.
Mittendorf is looking for a sweep.
Sjoberg working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mittendorf tries to bench press Sjoberg off him but Sjoberg keeps the position.
Mittendorf can't do much from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sjoberg drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sjoberg might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sjoberg is breathing heavily.
Sjoberg stops Mittendorf from standing up.
Mittendorf keeping moving, preventing Sjoberg from controlling successfully.
Sjoberg 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.
Sjoberg postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mittendorf is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sjoberg is controlling him.
Mittendorf is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sjoberg pushes Mittendorf off and gets back to his feet.
Mittendorf works Sjoberg's body with a nice hook.
Mittendorf stalks Sjoberg and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sjoberg's face. Sjoberg staggers backwards, shaken.

Mittendorf shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mittendorf showed some decent athleticism there.

Mittendorf decides to stand and escape the position.
Sjoberg ducks right into an uppercut from Mittendorf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mittendorf.

Mittendorf moves into the clinch.
Mittendorf jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sjoberg walks away with a smile on his face. Mittendorf gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mittendorf misses with a takedown
and Sjoberg counters with a one-two to the body.
Mittendorf scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mittendorf fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mikael Sjoberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralf Mittendorf.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mittendorf rushes Sjoberg and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Mittendorf lands an elbow inside.

Mittendorf has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sjoberg uses from the top position.
Mittendorf is adopting a defensive guard.
Mittendorf manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sjoberg is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mittendorf looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mittendorf trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mittendorf tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mittendorf punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mittendorf controlling the pace for now.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mittendorf can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sjoberg is looking to escape.
Mittendorf avoids the attempt from Sjoberg to control.
Mittendorf looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sjoberg swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Mittendorf with the ground and pound from mount.
Mittendorf trying to control but Sjoberg is having none of it.
Mittendorf controlling the position easily from mount.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mittendorf trying to control but Sjoberg is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ralf Mittendorf just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sjoberg has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sjoberg tries to clinch
and Mittendorf counters with a head kick. That will keep Sjoberg thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Mittendorf throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
No luck for Mittendorf with that takedown attempt.
Mittendorf throws a head kick that Sjoberg semi-blocks.
Mittendorf will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mittendorf misses with a body shot.
Mittendorf throws a nice head kick!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Mittendorf tries to clinch but Sjoberg is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Sjoberg. No joy for Mittendorf on that attempt.
Mittendorf misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mittendorf looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sjoberg is fending him off so far but Mittendorf persists. Nope, Sjoberg circles away and we're back to standing.

Sjoberg fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mittendorf sprawls well initially but Sjoberg persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mittendorf tries to kick Sjoberg off but Sjoberg keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mittendorf punching from the bottom.
Mittendorf trying to hold on to Sjoberg's head to control him but Sjoberg postures up.
Mittendorf regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sjoberg postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mittendorf wants to sweep but no luck.
Mittendorf pulls Sjoberg in close to prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Mittendorf has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mittendorf wants to get back to his feet but Sjoberg is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sjoberg with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sjoberg trying to control but Mittendorf is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mittendorf is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralf Mittendorf 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mittendorf shoots in for a takedown but Sjoberg shows good takedown defense.

Mittendorf gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sjoberg tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mittendorf jumps guard but Sjoberg stands there with Mittendorf around his waist. Mittendorf gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sjoberg is trying to break free.
Come on Mittendorf - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Mittendorf gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sjoberg regains guard.
Sjoberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mittendorf is one step ahead there.
Mittendorf wants to control from the top but Sjoberg keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mittendorf decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mittendorf tries for a takedown but Sjoberg circles away easily

and Sjoberg counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mittendorf won't be happy with that.
Mikael Sjoberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralf Mittendorf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mittendorf gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sjoberg throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mittendorf is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mittendorf has one foot on Sjoberg's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Mittendorf tries for a takedown but Sjoberg circles away easily

and Sjoberg counters with a takedown into side control.
Mittendorf is trying to control Sjoberg's posture but Sjoberg avoids it.
Mittendorf is looking to reverse the position.
Sjoberg trying to control the action but Mittendorf is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mittendorf is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
You can see the frustration on Mittendorf's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mittendorf is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Sjoberg has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sjoberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mittendorf keeps working.
Sjoberg gets to mount! Mittendorf was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Mittendorf is looking to get to half guard.
Sjoberg putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mittendorf avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sjoberg.
Sjoberg throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sjoberg throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mittendorf because Sjoberg loaded up on that one.
Mittendorf sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Mittendorf is trying to maintain the position but Sjoberg is very close to passing his half guard.
Mikael Sjoberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mittendorf is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Sjoberg is staying active.
Mittendorf is trying to stand up here but Sjoberg is controlling him well.
Mittendorf gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sjoberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Mittendorf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mittendorf looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mittendorf lands an upkick as Sjoberg stands over him.
Sjoberg won't allow Mittendorf to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sjoberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sjoberg won't allow Mittendorf to get back to his feet.
Sjoberg postures up and lands a big shot to Mittendorf's brow.
Mittendorf is trying to keep Sjoberg in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sjoberg throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mittendorf counters with a big head kick but Sjoberg shrugs it off.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mittendorf plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Sjoberg shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sjoberg looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sjoberg working the ground and pound effectively.

Sjoberg jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mittendorf is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mittendorf and Sjoberg has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
You can see the frustration on Mittendorf's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sjoberg trying to control the action but Mittendorf is working from the bottom.
Sjoberg is working Mittendorf over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Mittendorf sneaks back into half guard.
Mittendorf tries to kick Sjoberg off but Sjoberg keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sjoberg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sjoberg content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mittendorf trying to control but Sjoberg postures up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mittendorf connects with a high kick.
Sjoberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mittendorf fails with the takedown

and Sjoberg counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mittendorf's guard now.
Mittendorf avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sjoberg postures up in Mittendorf's guard and throws a big left but Mittendorf blocks it.

Mittendorf wriggles free and stands up.
Good leg kick by Mittendorf there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Mittendorf clinches up with Sjoberg and pushes him back against the ropes.
Sjoberg tries for a takedown but Mittendorf manages to get underhooks.

Mittendorf's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sjoberg avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sjoberg tries for a takedown but Mittendorf circles away easily
and Mittendorf counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Mittendorf scores a takedown into full mount!
Sjoberg gets back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sjoberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mittendorf decides to stand up.
Mittendorf stuffs the takedown.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Mittendorf shoots in but Sjoberg avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sjoberg with a poor takedown
and Mittendorf counters with a head kick.
Sjoberg attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Sjoberg tries to keep at a distance but Mittendorf has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mittendorf throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mittendorf is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sjoberg can't break the clinch.
Sjoberg tries for a takedown. No joy.

Mittendorf gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sjoberg regains guard.
Sjoberg is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Sjoberg looking for a guillotine here but Mittendorf defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ralf Mittendorf.
I think Mittendorf 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Ralf Mittendorf!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Ralf Mittendorf!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Ralf Mittendorf!

Ralf Mittendorf wins by unanimous decision!