PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdula Mikropopovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sol Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mikropopovic comes to the cage accompanied by Beat it. This should be fireworks!

Mikropopovic
vs
Dos Santos

185 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abdula Mikropopovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sol Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikropopovic tries to clinch up but Dos Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Mikropopovic moves out of range.

Dos Santos moves into the clinch.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mikropopovic - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the body.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos lands a good knee to the midsection. Mikropopovic won't want to take too many of those.
Knees to the body from Dos Santos.
Mikropopovic scores with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.

It looks like Abdula Mikropopovic has been cut.
Dos Santos creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mikropopovic's defenses.
Dos Santos using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mikropopovic tries to circle away but Dos Santos has him pinned against the cage.
Knees to the body from Dos Santos.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dos Santos.
Mikropopovic is breathing heavily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dos Santos as Mikropopovic tries to tie him up.
Mikropopovic tries for a takedown. No joy.

Mikropopovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Mikropopovic moves away

and Mikropopovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mikropopovic.
Mikropopovic takes an elbow to the temple.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dos Santos is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mikropopovic has Dos Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Dos Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dos Santos creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mikropopovic's defenses.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos scores with a knee to the head.
Mikropopovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mikropopovic has Dos Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Dos Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Mikropopovic blocks with his arms.
Mikropopovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body.
Dos Santos scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dos Santos using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mikropopovic takes a knee right on the jaw!

Dos Santos pulls Mikropopovic into guard.

Dos Santos pushes Mikropopovic off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos has Mikropopovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Dos Santos is trying to break free.
Nice elbow from Dos Santos.
Mikropopovic looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Mikropopovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dos Santos.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dos Santos using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mikropopovic.
Mikropopovic tries to pull guard but Dos Santos holds him up against the cage and eventually Mikropopovic drops back down to his feet.
Dos Santos creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mikropopovic's defenses.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos scores with a knee to the head.
Mikropopovic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdula Mikropopovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikropopovic wants to break free but Dos Santos has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mikropopovic's face.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dos Santos lands a good knee to the midsection. Mikropopovic won't want to take too many of those.

Dos Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dos Santos clinches but Mikropopovic breaks the clinch

and Mikropopovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mikropopovic.
Dos Santos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mikropopovic looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Dos Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dos Santos tries to clinch there but Mikropopovic circles away.
Mikropopovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mikropopovic blocks a head kick by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Mikropopovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mikropopovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos misses with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that half lands.
Dos Santos scores with a leg kick.
Dos Santos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos moves into range and clinches up with Mikropopovic.

Mikropopovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that misses

and Mikropopovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mikropopovic.
Dos Santos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mikropopovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dos Santos is trying to break the clinch but Mikropopovic is controlling him.
Mikropopovic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Mikropopovic manages to get underhooks.

Mikropopovic breaks from the clinch.
Dos Santos looks to clinch
and Mikropopovic counters with a left and a right that stings Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dos Santos dodges the punch combination from Mikropopovic.
Dos Santos wants to clinch but Mikropopovic slips to the side

and Mikropopovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mikropopovic.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the body.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dos Santos trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Mikropopovic on the inside.
Mikropopovic lands an elbow that stopped Dos Santos in his tracks for a moment.
Mikropopovic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dos Santos smiles and moves away.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sol Dos Santos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdula Mikropopovic's cut.
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.

Dos Santos blocks a head kick by Mikropopovic.

Dos Santos forces Mikropopovic back against the cage and clinches.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mikropopovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Dos Santos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dos Santos closes the distance but Mikropopovic moves to the side
and Mikropopovic counters with a left and a right that stings Dos Santos.
Dos Santos wants to clinch but Mikropopovic slips to the side

and Mikropopovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dos Santos's guard now.
Mikropopovic prevents Dos Santos from getting back to his feet.
Mikropopovic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to stand and escape but Mikropopovic is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dos Santos is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Mikropopovic decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mikropopovic has closed the distance and engaged Dos Santos in a clinch.
Dos Santos misses with an elbow strike.
Mikropopovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mikropopovic lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dos Santos has Mikropopovic pressed against the cage, preventing Mikropopovic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mikropopovic tries to pull guard but Dos Santos won't allow it.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mikropopovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mikropopovic goes for a takedown attempt but Dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mikropopovic moves into the clinch.
Sol Dos Santos seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Dos Santos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dos Santos working Mikropopovic over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dos Santos connects with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Mikropopovic blocks with his arms.
Dos Santos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos lands a good knee to the midsection. Mikropopovic won't want to take too many of those.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dos Santos throws an elbow but misses.
Mikropopovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdula Mikropopovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikropopovic tries to stall but Dos Santos uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Dos Santos prevents Mikropopovic from breaking the clinch.
Dos Santos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mikropopovic's face.
Dos Santos crunches a lovely knee into Mikropopovic's ribcage.
Mikropopovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dos Santos just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mikropopovic is looking to break free of the clinch but Dos Santos has double underhooks.
Dos Santos lands an elbow inside.
Dos Santos using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mikropopovic lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dos Santos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sol Dos Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Abdula Mikropopovic's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dos Santos swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mikropopovic moves into the clinch.
Dos Santos gets underhooks to prevent Mikropopovic's takedown attempt.
Mikropopovic jumps guard but Dos Santos stands there with Mikropopovic around his waist. Mikropopovic gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mikropopovic misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Mikropopovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dos Santos throws a lazy head kick
and Mikropopovic counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dos Santos misses with a wild body shot.
Dos Santos fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dos Santos has Mikropopovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Mikropopovic managing to block the knees to the body from Dos Santos.
Mikropopovic tries to stall but Dos Santos uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dos Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Dos Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Mikropopovic circles away.

Dos Santos moves into the clinch.
Dos Santos utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mikropopovic missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos jumps guard but Mikropopovic stands there with Dos Santos around his waist. Dos Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mikropopovic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dos Santos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdula Mikropopovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dos Santos lands a nice knee to the body.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mikropopovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos lands a good knee to the midsection. Mikropopovic won't want to take too many of those.
Mikropopovic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mikropopovic takes an elbow to the temple.
Dos Santos is trying to break free.

Mikropopovic breaks the clinch.
Dos Santos moves in looking to clinch but Mikropopovic pushes him off.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up

and Mikropopovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mikropopovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dos Santos avoiding damage as Mikropopovic throws knees to the body.
Dos Santos scores a nice knee to the body.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mikropopovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dos Santos just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mikropopovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Dos Santos avoids the damage to the body.
Dos Santos lands an elbow inside that Mikropopovic shrugs off.
Mikropopovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Mikropopovic takes an elbow to the forehead.
Dos Santos can't break the clinch.
Mikropopovic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dos Santos smiles and moves away.
Nice straight punches there by Mikropopovic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mikropopovic.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mikropopovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Dos Santos rushes Mikropopovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mikropopovic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dos Santos scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Dos Santos.
Mikropopovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mikropopovic tries to break free but Dos Santos pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Dos Santos moves into range and clinches up with Mikropopovic.
Mikropopovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Mikropopovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mikropopovic tries to land a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks with his arms.
Mikropopovic working hard to break the clinch.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dos Santos.
Dos Santos lands a nice elbow.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but Mikropopovic blocks it.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike.

Mikropopovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mikropopovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dos Santos darts in trying to clinch
and Mikropopovic counters with a series of strikes. Dos Santos will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Dos Santos. Mikropopovic shrugs it off though.

Dos Santos tries to keep at a distance but Mikropopovic has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mikropopovic pulls guard.
Mikropopovic is looking to sweep but instead, Dos Santos has passed into half guard.
Dos Santos performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sol Dos Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dos Santos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sol Dos Santos!