TPC: The Gates are open... PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between George Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Mikkelsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson's entrance music is Darude - Sandstorm. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Anderson
vs
Mikkelsen

175 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Mikkelsen!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Mikkelsen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anderson tries a head kick but it misses.
Anderson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mikkelsen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mikkelsen throws a leg kick that is checked

and Anderson moves into the clinch.
Mikkelsen is pressed up against the cage. Anderson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mikkelsen down to the mat. Mikkelsen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Anderson is looking to slow Mikkelsen down with leg kicks.
Mikkelsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Anderson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mikkelsen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Anderson walks away with a smile on his face. Mikkelsen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A left and a right from Anderson both land. Nice combination.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mikkelsen as he jumps to the side.
Mikkelsen keeps the fight on the outside.
Mikkelsen throws out a counter right but Anderson avoids it with no problem.
A left lands for Anderson.
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!
Some wild striking there from Anderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkelsen moves out of range of the body kick from Anderson.
Anderson tries to clinch up.
Anderson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mikkelsen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Anderson has taken the fight to the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
Mikkelsen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
George Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Mikkelsen.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Mikkelsen won't allow it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mikkelsen avoids the elbow strike from Anderson, against the cage.
Mikkelsen tries to pull guard but Anderson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mikkelsen is trying to pull guard but Anderson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mikkelsen jumps guard but Anderson stands there with Mikkelsen around his waist. Mikkelsen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Anderson misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Anderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Anderson.
Mikkelsen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Anderson defends well and Mikkelsen ends up having to push Anderson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Anderson moves in looking to clinch but Mikkelsen pushes him off.

Mikkelsen clinches.
Anderson tries to land knees in the clinch but Mikkelsen avoids the damage to the body.
Anderson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Anderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mikkelsen is defending well for now.
Anderson misses with the head strike.
Anderson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Anderson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsen shoots for a double leg takedown but Anderson sprawls well. He's pushed Mikkelsen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mikkelsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Anderson moves away.
Anderson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mikkelsen.
As Mikkelsen looks to move away, Anderson throws a big counter combo bu Mikkelsen just gets out of the way.
Mikkelsen looks winded!
Mikkelsen misses with a two punch combination.

Mikkelsen moves into range and clinches up with Anderson.
Mikkelsen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anderson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mikkelsen's defenses.
Anderson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Anderson jumps guard but Mikkelsen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Anderson breaks from the clinch.

Anderson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mikkelsen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anderson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Anderson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Anderson is looking to take a break and control but Mikkelsen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Anderson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mikkelsen controls his leg.
Anderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Anderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Anderson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Anderson lands a jab-cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Anderson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Anderson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Anderson moves into the clinch.
Mikkelsen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mikkelsen is working for takedown but Anderson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Anderson lands a left hand.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Anderson lands with a light punch inside.
George Anderson has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Mikkelsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mikkelsen avoids the head kick by Anderson.
Mikkelsen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Anderson scores with a jab to the body.
Jab by Anderson.
Mikkelsen is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson tries to clinch up.
Anderson moves in looking to clinch but Mikkelsen pushes him off.
Anderson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Anderson throws a looping overhand right but Mikkelsen ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson works over Mikkelsen's head and body with a nice combination.
George Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Anderson.
Anderson throws a nice head kick!
Mikkelsen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
George Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Anderson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Anderson.
Anderson tries a knee to the head but Mikkelsen blocks it.
Anderson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mikkelsen's face.
Anderson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Anderson scores a nice knee to the body.
Anderson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Anderson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mikkelsen up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Mikkelsen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anderson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mikkelsen backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Anderson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Anderson is looking to control Mikkelsen's arms but Mikkelsen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Anderson has his back to the cage.

Mikkelsen manages to break the clinch.
Anderson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Anderson throws a sloppy head kick and Mikkelsen moves out of range easily.
Anderson scores with a sloppy right hand. Mikkelsen should have avoided that one.
George Anderson is winning the standup battle so far.
Mikkelsen shoots in for a takedown but Anderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Anderson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Anderson. Those never looked like landing.
Anderson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mikkelsen momentarily.
Anderson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mikkelsens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Anderson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Anderson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Anderson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Anderson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mikkelsen.
Anderson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mikkelsen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Mikkelsen clinches up against the cage.
Anderson lands a damaging elbow.
Anderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mikkelsen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson lands an elbow that stopped Mikkelsen in his tracks for a moment.
Nice elbow from Anderson.
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!
Mikkelsen is trying to pull guard but Anderson has him pressed against the cage.

Anderson gets control of Mikkelsen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Anderson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Anderson 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.
Anderson wants to get back to his feet but Mikkelsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mikkelsen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mikkelsen prevents Anderson from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Anderson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Anderson throws a nice looking combination but Mikkelsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Anderson is looking to clinch.
Mikkelsen shoots in for a takedown but Anderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mikkelsen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Anderson blocks a head kick by Mikkelsen.
Anderson throws a series of punches but Mikkelsen avoids them all with ease.
Anderson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mikkelsen can do to turn this around?
Anderson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Anderson is looking to clinch but Mikkelsen is avoiding it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikkelsen dives in for a single leg takedown but Anderson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Anderson clinches.
A short right from Anderson on the inside.
Anderson tries to land a knee to the head but Mikkelsen blocks with his arms.
Anderson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mikkelsen manages to break the clinch.
Anderson looks for a takedown but Mikkelsen sprawls well.
Mikkelsen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Anderson as he avoids it easily.
Anderson throwing a counter right hand but Mikkelsen manages to avoid it.
George Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Mikkelsen.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Anderson!
Nice defenses there by Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Anderson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Anderson. Those never looked like landing.
Anderson throws a nice outside leg kick.

Mikkelsen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Anderson manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Anderson misses with the combination.
Mikkelsen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mikkelsen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anderson as he jumps to the side.
Anderson is looking for a counter combo.
Anderson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mikkelsen wants to counter the offense by Anderson and move into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anderson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anderson.
Anderson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Anderson moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson jumps guard but Mikkelsen stands there with Anderson around his waist. Anderson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Anderson looking for a takedown.
Anderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mikkelsen's elbow.
Anderson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mikkelsen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mikkelsen is looking to take this one to the mat.

Mikkelsen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anderson tries to bum rush Mikkelsen with a series of wild strikes but Mikkelsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mikkelsen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mikkelsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anderson connects with an inside leg kick.
Mikkelsen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Anderson.
Anderson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mikkelsen or perhaps it was just good defense by Anderson, which made it look bad.
Mikkelsen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
George Anderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mikkelsen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping body kick lands there for Anderson.
Anderson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mikkelsen is trying desperately to land a takedown but Anderson is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Mikkelsen.
Anderson throws a nice looking combination but Mikkelsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mikkelsen shoots for a takedown but Anderson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anderson throws a big counter combination but Mikkelsen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Thomas Mikkelsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some wild striking there from Anderson.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Anderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Anderson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Anderson!
George Anderson thanked the fans post fight for their support.