PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Essom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Micozzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Essom kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is 'Baba O' Riley' The Who. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Essom
vs
Micozzi

190 cm
19
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mitchell Essom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrew Micozzi!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Essom fails to land with a series of punches.

Essom shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Micozzi's guard.

Micozzi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Essom has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Essom passes into half guard.
Essom tries to pass to full mount but Micozzi defends it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Essom tries to stand and escape but Micozzi is controlling the position.
Micozzi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Essom is working away from the top position though.

Micozzi looking for submissions off his back.
Essom tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Micozzi.
Essom throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Essom tries to stand but can't do so whilst Micozzi controls his leg.
Essom knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Micozzi on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Essom prevents Micozzi from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Essom misses with an uppercut. Micozzi saw that one coming.
Micozzi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Essom counters with a shoot takedown. Micozzi fights it but they end up in guard.
Micozzi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Essom trying to control the position from guard on top but Micozzi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Essom looking to pass the guard.
Essom throws a big right hand that misses.
Micozzi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Essom is trying to escape the mount.
Essom is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Micozzi controlling the position easily from mount.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Micozzi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Micozzi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Essom manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Essom tries to improve position but can't.
Essom is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Micozzi off and has taken his back!

Essom is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Micozzi knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Micozzi for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Micozzi trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Micozzi has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Essom.
Essom controlling well, preventing Micozzi from escaping the position.
Essom is looking to control Micozzi but Micozzi is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Micozzi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Essom is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Micozzi is surviving well by controlling Essom's body position as best he can.
Micozzi gets back to half guard.
Essom trying to mount his opponent but Micozzi defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Micozzi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Essom wants to stand but Micozzi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Micozzi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Micozzi trying to keep a closed guard but Essom is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Micozzi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Essom doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Essom manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Essom trying to stand up but can't free himself from Micozzi's guard.
Micozzi keeping full guard, as Essom tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mitchell Essom will probably get the nod.
That's time! Essom's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Essom throws a low kick, looking for Micozzi's leg but Micozzi calmly moves out of range.
Essom's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Essom duly obliges.
Essom throws a nice looking combination but Micozzi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mitchell Essom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Essom turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Essom misses with the combination.
Essom attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Essom rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Micozzi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Essom fails with an attempt to clinch.

Micozzi clinches up against the cage.
Essom tries to work over Micozzi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Micozzi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Micozzi keeps control of Essom as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Micozzi jumps guard.

Essom has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Micozzi to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Essom is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Micozzi pulls down on the head and he's put Essom to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Andrew Micozzi!