PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucio Almeida (ranked 3429 p4p, 313 weight class) and Mikko Alatalo (ranked 2893 p4p, 277 weight class). 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.

Almeida
vs
Alatalo

195 cm
32
240 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

202 cm
31
260 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lucio Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikko Alatalo!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida fails with the takedown.
Almeida blocks a jab.
We've been told by Almeida's head coaches at Kombat Hangar 18 that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Alatalo dips to his left and cracks Almeida with an uppercut!

It looks like Lucio Almeida has been cut.
Almeida uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alatalo.
Almeida is looking to counter the offense by Alatalo and move into the clinch.
Alatalo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Almeida on the side of the head.
Almeida moves out of range as Alatalo strikes.
Alatalo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Almeida.
Almeida misses the jab.
Alatalo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice defenses there by Alatalo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alatalo scores with a jab to the head.
Almeida takes a swing at Alatalo's ribcage but misses.
Almeida throws a lazy right hand but Alatalo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alatalo throws a counter combo.
Mikko Alatalo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alatalo. Almeida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Almeida takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alatalo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Almeida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alatalo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Almeida moves into the clinch.
Alatalo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Almeida blocks it with crossed arms.
Almeida avoids a wild elbow strike from Alatalo.
A short body shot lands from Almeida as the two fighters clinch.
Almeida misses with a body punch.
Almeida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alatalo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Alatalo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Alatalo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Almeida's elbow.
Almeida doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alatalo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida avoiding damage as Alatalo throws knees to the body.
Almeida jumps guard but Alatalo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Alatalo struggles to land a body shot inside as Almeida controls his hands.
Alatalo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Almeida blocks an elbow strike.
Almeida tries to throw a body punch but Alatalo avoids it by throwing Almeida back against the cage.
Almeida lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Alatalo lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alatalo prevents a body shot from Almeida.
Alatalo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Alatalo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Almeida's elbow.
Alatalo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Alatalo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucio Almeida's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Almeida throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Almeida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Almeida bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Alatalo's head.

It looks like Mikko Alatalo has been cut.
Alatalo jabs at Almeida's body.
Alatalo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Almeida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alatalo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alatalo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Almeida under the eye.
A decent looking cross lands there for Alatalo.

Lucio Almeida's cut is getting worse.
Alatalo has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Almeida is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Alatalo's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Alatalo misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alatalo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Alatalo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Almeida's head backwards.

Almeida is rocked!
Mikko Alatalo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alatalo misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Alatalo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alatalo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Almeida lands a nice hook to Alatalo's body. Alatalo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alatalo scores with a sloppy right hand. Almeida should have avoided that one.
Alatalo misses with a straight left.
Mikko Alatalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alatalo looks to score with a jab to the body but Almeida is just out of range.
A big right from Alatalo misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almeida. Alatalo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alatalo throws a body punch but Almeida moves out of range.
Almeida on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Alatalo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alatalo sizes up Almeida with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Lucio Almeida's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Almeida connects with a jab.
Alatalo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Almeida is able to avoid easily.
Almeida tries to counter by clinching up but Alatalo breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alatalo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Almeida seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Alatalo misses with a straight right.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Almeida uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alatalo.
Alatalo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Alatalo looks to land a right hand but Almeida moved out of range.
Almeida seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Alatalo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Almeida changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Alatalo lands a big head kick that sends Almeida tumbling to the mat! Alatalo takes a step backwards and waves Almeida back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Alatalo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Almeida.
Alatalo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Alatalo misses with a looping left.

Alatalo gets tackled into the cage by Almeida. Almeida maintains the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alatalo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alatalo connects with a nice looking jab.

Jeez, Lucio Almeida's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Alatalo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Almeida. That did some damage!
Almeida misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Alatalo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Alatalo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alatalo misses with an uppercut.
Alatalo avoids the body shot from Almeida.
Alatalo throws out a counter right but Almeida avoids it with no problem.
Alatalo throws a hook but Almeida blocks it.
Alatalo throws a poor cross that misses

and Almeida counters by moving into the clinch.

Almeida decides to pull guard.
Alatalo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alatalo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alatalo tries to stand but Almeida is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Almeida looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alatalo passes into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alatalo wants to stand but Almeida has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Almeida is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lucio Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Almeida is trying to maintain the position but Alatalo is very close to passing his half guard.
Almeida is looking to improve his position.
Almeida wants to get back to full guard but Alatalo has mounted him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Almeida really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alatalo controlling the pace for now.
Alatalo avoids the attempt from Almeida to control.
Alatalo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alatalo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Almeida is looking to improve his position but Alatalo isn't that keen on the idea.
Almeida throwing hammer fists to the chest of Alatalo. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikko Alatalo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alatalo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Alatalo!
Mikko Alatalo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.