PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maikkel Mikkelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Remedios Verzosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Mikkelsson
vs
Verzosa

225 cm
21
188 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Defiance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maikkel Mikkelsson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Remedios Verzosa!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Mikkelsson does no damage.
Verzosa dives in and grabs Mikkelsson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mikkelsson pushes down on Verzosa's head and hops out.
Mikkelsson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab from Mikkelsson finds it's way through Verzosa's defenses.
Verzosa has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mikkelsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Verzosa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mikkelsson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Verzosa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mikkelsson.
Verzosa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Verzosa shoots in and bounces Mikkelsson off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
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.
Verzosa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mikkelsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Verzosa prevents Mikkelsson from getting back to his feet.
Verzosa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Verzosa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mikkelsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Verzosa is controlling him.
Verzosa lands a couple of digs.
Verzosa landing some decent shots from guard.
Mikkelsson is looking to stand back up but Verzosa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mikkelsson.
Verzosa prevents Mikkelsson from standing back up.
Verzosa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

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.
Verzosa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Verzosa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Verzosa passes to full mount!
Mikkelsson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Verzosa won't let Mikkelsson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Verzosa lands a big elbow.
Verzosa landing strikes from the mount.
Verzosa working Mikkelsson over with strikes here.
Verzosa won't let Mikkelsson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Verzosa scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Verzosa is landing with some decent strikes but Mikkelsson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Verzosa lands a heavy elbow.
Verzosa working the ground and pound effectively.
Verzosa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mikkelsson is looking to escape.
Verzosa scoring with strikes but Mikkelsson is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa raining down shots from the mount!
Verzosa controlling from mount.
Verzosa scoring with strikes but Mikkelsson is staying in there.
Mikkelsson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Verzosa with good strikes from the mount here!
Mikkelsson is trying to stand.
Verzosa landing shots from mount.
Mikkelsson is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
Verzosa lands with some strikes.
Mikkelsson trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa wants to control the pace but Mikkelsson is squirming around nicely.
Verzosa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mikkelsson looks a forlorn figure.
Mikkelsson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Verzosa lands a nice shot to the head.
Verzosa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Mikkelsson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Verzosa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Verzosa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mikkelsson is in a horrible position here. Verzosa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mikkelsson is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Verzosa looking to control but Mikkelsson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Verzosa controlling his opponent.
Verzosa with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A big right from Mikkelsson misses.
Verzosa tries for a takedown but Mikkelsson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mikkelsson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mikkelsson punishes Verzosa's body with a nice straight punch.
Verzosa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Verzosa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mikkelsson wants to stand and escape but Verzosa is having none of it.
Mikkelsson keeping moving, preventing Verzosa from controlling successfully.
Mikkelsson wants to stand and escape but Verzosa is having none of it.

Mikkelsson is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa tries to pull guard but Mikkelsson holds him up against the ropes and eventually Verzosa drops back down to his feet.
Maikkel Mikkelsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remedios Verzosa.

Verzosa gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Verzosa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mikkelsson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mikkelsson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Verzosa on the ground.
Verzosa works his way into side control.
Verzosa prevents Mikkelsson from escaping the position.
Verzosa in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Mikkelsson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Verzosa working the ground and pound from side control.
Mikkelsson bucks up and tries to throw Verzosa off but instead Verzosa has got his back!
Mikkelsson trying to get back to his feet but Verzosa is in full control for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Verzosa has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Mikkelsson.
Mikkelsson holding both Verzosa 's hands and preventing any damage.
Verzosa is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Verzosa gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Verzosa gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Verzosa apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Verzosa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Verzosa shoots in but Mikkelsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Verzosa shoots in but Mikkelsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Verzosa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mikkelsson swivels and escapes.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mikkelsson.
Horrible takedown by Verzosa or perhaps it was just good defense by Mikkelsson which made him look bad.

Verzosa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mikkelsson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Verzosa is looking to take a break and control but Mikkelsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mikkelsson is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mikkelsson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Verzosa working the head with strikes.
Mikkelsson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Verzosa lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mikkelsson down.
Mikkelsson tries to escape but Verzosa is in control.
Verzosa is chipping away with strikes.
Mikkelsson tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Verzosa with a couple of short strikes.
Mikkelsson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Verzosa landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Verzosa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mikkelsson's waist but Mikkelsson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Verzosa off to one side.
Verzosa shoots in but no luck this time.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mikkelsson as he jumps to the side.
Maikkel Mikkelsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remedios Verzosa.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Verzosa.

Verzosa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Verzosa showed some decent athleticism there.
Mikkelsson wants to stand back up but Verzosa manages to pass into side control.
Verzosa scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Verzosa prevents Mikkelsson from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Verzosa works to advance to full mount. Mikkelsson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Remedios Verzosa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mikkelsson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Mikkelsson is bucking up trying to escape but Verzosa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Verzosa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Verzosa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Verzosa trying to control but Mikkelsson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa lands a big shot there that rocks Mikkelsson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mikkelsson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Verzosa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Mikkelsson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Verzosa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mikkelsson really wants to buck Verzosa off and get back to his feet.
Verzosa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mikkelsson hang on?
Verzosa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Verzosa landing strikes from the mount.
Mikkelsson taking shots to the head.
Verzosa with good strikes from the mount here!
Verzosa is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Verzosa won't let Mikkelsson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa landing shots from mount.
Mikkelsson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Verzosa breaks from Mikkelsson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Verzosa trying to control but Mikkelsson is having none of it.
Verzosa with shots to the head and body - Mikkelsson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mikkelsson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Verzosa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mikkelsson looks a forlorn figure.
Verzosa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Verzosa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mikkelsson is in a horrible position here. Verzosa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mikkelsson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Verzosa wants to control the pace but Mikkelsson is squirming around nicely.
Mikkelsson wants to try and get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Verzosa.
Verzosa looking to finish Mikkelsson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mikkelsson!
The referee warns Mikkelsson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Verzosa is landing with some decent strikes but Mikkelsson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
You get the feeling that Mikkelsson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Verzosa trying to control but Mikkelsson is having none of it.
Mikkelsson is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Verzosa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mikkelsson circles away.
Mikkelsson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Verzosa circles away quickly and effectively.
Verzosa shoots in but Mikkelsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Verzosa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maikkel Mikkelsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remedios Verzosa.
Mikkelsson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mikkelsson wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verzosa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Verzosa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Verzosa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mikkelsson avoids it really well and circles away.
Verzosa shoots for a takedown but Mikkelsson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa takes one to the chin there.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mikkelsson sprawls well. Mikkelsson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Verzosa gets slowly back to his feet.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mikkelsson as he jumps to the side.
Mikkelsson scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mikkelsson.
Mikkelsson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mikkelsson sprawls well. Mikkelsson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Verzosa gets slowly back to his feet.
Mikkelsson misses with the combination.
Verzosa moves out of range as Mikkelsson strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Mikkelsson does no damage.
Mikkelsson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Verzosa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mikkelsson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Mikkelsson lands a two punch combo.
Verzosa slips under a jab.
Mikkelsson lands a jab.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mikkelsson sprawls well. Mikkelsson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Verzosa gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Mikkelsson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Verzosa.
Verzosa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mikkelsson avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mikkelsson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Verzosa circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maikkel Mikkelsson had his way with Remedios Verzosa in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mikkelsson lands a jab-cross combination.

Verzosa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mikkelsson's guard.
Mikkelsson wants to stand up but Verzosa is controlling him.
Verzosa is looking to work some ground and pound but Mikkelsson has wrist control.
Mikkelsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Verzosa.
Verzosa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mikkelsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Verzosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Mikkelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mikkelsson is wriggling around but Verzosa manages to pass to half guard.
Mikkelsson is trying to stand back up but Verzosa is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Verzosa or perhaps it was just good defense by Mikkelsson which made him look bad.
Verzosa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkelsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Verzosa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mikkelsson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Mikkelsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Verzosa moves away.
Verzosa shoots in and drives through. Mikkelsson sprawls well.
Verzosa dives in and grabs Mikkelsson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mikkelsson pushes down on Verzosa's head and hops out.
Maikkel Mikkelsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remedios Verzosa.
Mikkelsson throws a body punch but Verzosa moves out of range.

That's two 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.
Mikkelsson lands a jab to the nose.
Verzosa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mikkelsson defends it nicely.
Verzosa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maikkel Mikkelsson is winning the standup battle so far.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mikkelsson sprawls well. Mikkelsson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Verzosa gets slowly back to his feet.
Mikkelsson leaves Verzosa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Mikkelsson.
Verzosa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mikkelsson avoids it really well and circles away.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maikkel Mikkelsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Verzosa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Verzosa shoots for a double leg takedown but Mikkelsson sprawls well. He's pushed Verzosa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mikkelsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Verzosa.
Verzosa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mikkelsson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Verzosa circles away quickly and effectively.
Verzosa misses with a takedown attempt - Mikkelsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mikkelsson lands with a straight right. Verzosa didn't see that one coming.
Mikkelsson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maikkel Mikkelsson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Verzosa 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Remedios Verzosa!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Remedios Verzosa!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Remedios Verzosa!

Remedios Verzosa wins by unanimous decision!
Remedios Verzosa is the new middleweight champion!