PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Neviim (ranked 3009 p4p, 2934 weight class) and Dan Mikkel (ranked 380 p4p, 374 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Dan Mikkel enters the cage!

Neviim
vs
Mikkel

188 cm
20
180
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
180
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ezekiel Neviim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Mikkel!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neviim slips under a jab from Mikkel.
Mikkel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Neviim scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Dan Mikkel has been cut.
Mikkel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Neviim.
Neviim backing away here, and Mikkel unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mikkel defending well as Neviim loads up on a big left hand.
Neviim feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mikkels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Neviim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mikkel was well out of range. Poor timing from Neviim.
Mikkel thuds a left hand into Neviim's body.
Neviim uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mikkel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Neviim. Mikkel does a little dance to reset his feet.
It seemed like Mikkel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Neviim misses with a body punch
and Mikkel counters with an outside leg kick.
Neviim fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mikkel manages to avoid it.
Neviim takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've been informed that Mikkel has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Neviim throws a jab when Mikkel was well out of range.
Mikkel swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mikkel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Neviim manages to avoid it.
Mikkel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Neviim manages to avoid it.
Mikkel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Neviim is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mikkel's half guard.
Mikkel is trying to get back to full guard.
Neviim thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Neviim is stalling here. Mikkel is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Neviim seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Mikkel has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neviim sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Neviim has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Neviim moves into full guard.
Mikkel stays in close to Neviim's body and controls the position.
Neviim looking for a sweep. Not yet Neviim, not yet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neviim is working hard here to advance position.
Neviim is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neviim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neviim 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.
Mikkel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Neviim pulls Mikkel in to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Neviim drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mikkel uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikkel misses the jab.
Neviim misses with a wild body shot.
Neviim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mikkel was well out of range. Poor timing from Neviim.
Mikkel looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Neviim throws a body shot but no joy.
Mikkel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Neviim throws a poor cross that misses
and Mikkel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Neviim misses with a wild body shot.
Ezekiel Neviim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neviim bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Neviim misses with the combination.
Neviim lands a jab to Mikkel's midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Mikkel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dan Mikkel's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Neviim moves away from the strike by Mikkel.
A jab from Mikkel does it's job there.
Neviim scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mikkel doesn't seem bothered though.
Mikkel scoring well with a low kick there.
Neviim swings for the body but Mikkel moves out of range.
Mikkel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It seemed like Mikkel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Dan Mikkel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mikkel scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Neviim uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mikkel.
A telegraphed right hand from Mikkel misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neviim scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A slow jab from Neviim misses its intended target.
It seemed like Mikkel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Neviim throws a jab when Mikkel was well out of range.
Neviim misses with a body punch
and Mikkel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkel tries to clinch but Neviim moves out of range.
Neviim throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dan Mikkel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Neviim closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mikkel to the mat! Mikkel manages to get full guard.
Mikkel looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mikkel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mikkel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Neviim postures up in Mikkel's guard and throws a big left but Mikkel blocks it.
Neviim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mikkel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Neviim preventing the sweep.
Mikkel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neviim connects with a couple of short punches.
Neviim keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mikkel's head.
Mikkel has Neviim pulled in close to control his posture.
Neviim is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Neviim with a flurry of punches that miss.
Neviim is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Neviim won't allow Mikkel to sweep him here.
Neviim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neviim is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Neviim postures up.
Neviim won't allow Mikkel to sweep him here.
Neviim works over Mikkel with some ground and pound from guard.
Neviim controlling from the top position.
Mikkel controlling Neviim's posture.
Neviim slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Neviim 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.
Neviim lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mikkel down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neviim working away.
Mikkel takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Neviim lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mikkel down.
Neviim working the ground and pound.
Mikkel managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Neviim.
Neviim is chipping away with strikes.
Mikkel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neviim landing a few strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ezekiel Neviim dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dan Mikkel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Neviim misses with a right hand
and Mikkel counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Neviim throws a lazy right hand but Mikkel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mikkel connects with a single shot there.
Mikkel scoring well with a low kick there.
Mikkel throws out a leg kick but Neviim moves out of range and Mikkel only half commits.
Neviim throws a sloppy body shot
and Neviim takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Neviim takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Neviim avoids the head kick by Mikkel.
Neviim ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mikkel moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mikkel throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Neviim counter with a right hand.
Neviim throws a right hand that misses
and Mikkel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mikkel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Neviim takes a swing at Mikkel's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkel ducks right into an uppercut from Neviim.
Neviim uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mikkel.
Neviim dips to his left and cracks Mikkel with an uppercut!
Neviim takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Neviim throws a lazy uppercut
and Mikkel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Neviim throws a body shot but no joy.
Mikkel tries to clinch but Neviim is having none of it.

Neviim closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mikkel to the mat! Mikkel manages to get full guard.
Neviim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mikkel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neviim is looking to work some ground and pound but Mikkel has wrist control.
Neviim tries to free his leg and advance position but Mikkel is retaining full guard.
Mikkel keeping moving, preventing Neviim from controlling successfully.
Mikkel has control of Neviim's left arm, preventing Neviim from doing any damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Neviim with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Neviim stands up over Mikkel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Neviim throws a strike but Mikkel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mikkel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mikkel stopping the sweep attempt from Neviim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neviim has a closed guard, preventing Mikkel from standing up.
Neviim can't keep his opponent in guard - Mikkel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mikkel is pressing down on Neviim's thigh, looking to free his foot. Neviim is holding on for now.
Neviim is trying to get back to full guard.
Neviim gets full guard.

That's four 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.
Neviim wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mikkel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Neviim working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Neviim is on top in guard.

Neviim keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mikkel's head.
Neviim connects with a couple of short punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ezekiel Neviim.
I think Neviim has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ezekiel Neviim!
Ezekiel Neviim spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.