PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evan Freeman (ranked 4625 p4p, 4254 weight class) and Michael Atherton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Freeman
vs
Atherton

185 cm
18
209
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
204
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

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 Helsinki, Evan Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Atherton!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Atherton uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Freeman has time to react.
Freeman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Atherton throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Freeman stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice straight punches there by Atherton. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Atherton.
Atherton connects with a nice looking jab.
Atherton scores with a decent looking hook.
Freeman takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
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!
Atherton jabs at Freeman's body.
Atherton throws a looping overhand right but Freeman ducks down to avoid it.
Freeman feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Atherton.
Atherton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Freeman.
Jab from Atherton.
Atherton lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Atherton throws a body shot but no joy.
Freeman tries to counter with a takedown but Atherton is quick to defend against it.
Atherton throws out a powerful jab.
Freeman avoids the body shot from Atherton.
Freeman attempts a counter takedown but Atherton avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atherton misses the shot to the body.
Freeman takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Freeman takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Freeman walks into a straight right hand from Atherton.
Atherton misses with a few strikes there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Atherton connects with a right hand. Freeman shakes it off.
Atherton connects with a right hand. Freeman shakes it off.
Atherton moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Atherton.
Atherton lands a nice hook to Freeman's body. Freeman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Atherton drops Freeman with a beautiful combination! Freeman stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Atherton is looking for the KO!

Freeman is rocked!
Atherton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Freeman manages to avoid it.
Atherton lands a right hook to the body.
Atherton misses with a hook. Freeman ducked under it nicely.
Freeman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Atherton sprawls and moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atherton lands with a cross.
Atherton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atherton looks to score with a jab to the body but Freeman is just out of range.
Freeman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Atherton sprawls and moves away.
Michael Atherton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Atherton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Atherton throws out a powerful jab.
Nice defenses there by Freeman.
Freeman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Atherton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Atherton with a nice cross.
Atherton with a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Atherton dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Atherton misses with a body shot.
Freeman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Atherton sprawls and moves away.
Atherton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Freeman ducks right into an uppercut from Atherton.
Freeman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Atherton cracks Freeman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Atherton connects with the punch.
Atherton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atherton lands a nice shot to the body.
Atherton misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atherton paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Atherton works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Freeman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Atherton to score with a decent uppercut.
Atherton connects with a body shot that sends Freeman's belly button to the back.
Michael Atherton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman drops his hands momentarily and Atherton takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Freeman takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Freeman staying out of range there.
Freeman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A big right from Atherton misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atherton scores with a hook to the body. Freeman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Atherton works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freeman ducks under a wild hook from Atherton.
Atherton connects with a body shot.
Freeman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Atherton throws out the jab.
Freeman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Freeman gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman slips under a jab from Atherton.
Atherton misses with a wild body shot.
Freeman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Atherton.
Freeman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Atherton sprawls and moves away.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Freeman. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Atherton lands with a good body shot.
Atherton getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Atherton throws a shot to the body.
Atherton lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atherton cracks Freeman with a right hand to the side of the head.
Atherton lands a jab.
Jab from Atherton.
Atherton throws a body punch but Freeman moves out of range.
Freeman tries to counter with a takedown but Atherton is quick to defend against it.
Atherton changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Atherton connects with a body shot.
Freeman takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Atherton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Atherton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Atherton takes a swing at Freeman's ribcage but misses.
Freeman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Atherton sprawls and moves away.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Freeman might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
A jab from Atherton finds it's way through Freeman's defenses.
Atherton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Freeman moves away.
Freeman avoids the body shot from Atherton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman slips a jab from Atherton.
Atherton cracks Freeman with an open hand slap.
Freeman takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atherton throws a looping overhand right but Freeman ducks down to avoid it.
Freeman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Freeman takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Atherton moves into range and connects with a jab.
Atherton's jab looks to have found its range, popping Freeman under the eye.
Oh Freeman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Freeman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Atherton drops Freeman with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Freeman! Atherton dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Atherton!
After winning the bout, Michael Atherton thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.