PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jermaine Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdula Mikropopovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andre comes to the cage accompanied by Till I Collapse. Mikropopovic has chosen Beat it as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Andre
vs
Mikropopovic

182 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jermaine Andre!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abdula Mikropopovic!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Andre feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Andre loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Andre throwing strikes from guard but Mikropopovic blocks nicely.
Andre throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mikropopovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Andre tries to free his leg and advance position but Mikropopovic is retaining full guard.

Andre postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mikropopovic is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Andre, into his guard.
Mikropopovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Andre throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Andre looking for a sweep. Not yet Andre, not yet.
Andre trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andre wants to sweep here but Mikropopovic controlling him for the moment.

Andre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mikropopovic is aware though and is defending well.

Andre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mikropopovic is aware though and is defending well.
Mikropopovic preventing the sweep.

Mikropopovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Andre is breathing heavily.

Andre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mikropopovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mikropopovic tries to stand but Andre is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Andre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mikropopovic is one step ahead there.
Andre trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Andre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mikropopovic is one step ahead there.
Andre trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mikropopovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Andre working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mikropopovic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mikropopovic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Andre 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.
Andre 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.
Andre bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mikropopovic's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre looking to pass the guard.

Andre drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mikropopovic dives on top into guard.
Andre is striking from the bottom but Mikropopovic uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Mikropopovic prevents Andre from improving his position.
Andre is working hard here to advance position.
Mikropopovic wants to stand but Andre has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Andre dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mikropopovic tries to clinch up.
Mikropopovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Andre paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Andre shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mikropopovic is trying to defend but Andre finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Andre not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Andre wants to free his trapped foot but Mikropopovic is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Andre not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mikropopovic is defending against the submission attempts here by Andre.
Mikropopovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Andre.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andre is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mikropopovic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Andre thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mikropopovic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Andre.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Andre shoots for a double leg takedown but Mikropopovic sprawls well. He's pushed Andre's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Andre shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mikropopovic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mikropopovic is looking for a sweep.

Andre working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mikropopovic tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Andre is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mikropopovic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Andre tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Andre misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre advances to full mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Andre there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mikropopovic holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Andre tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Andre lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Andre working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Andre with the ground and pound from mount.
Andre fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Andre raining down shots from the mount!
Mikropopovic wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Andre.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Andre jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mikropopovic is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mikropopovic and Andre has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Mikropopovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Andre working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Andre has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mikropopovic takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Andre dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mikropopovic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Andre closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mikropopovic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Andre.
Andre thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mikropopovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Andre. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mikropopovic is trying to get back to full guard.

Andre is trying to work for a kimura but Mikropopovic is defending well.
Mikropopovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Andre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mikropopovic's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikropopovic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Andre missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mikropopovic shoots in for a double leg but Andre sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mikropopovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mikropopovic tries to clinch up.

Andre closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Andre sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mikropopovic defending well though.
Andre uses his free foot to push down on Mikropopovic's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mikropopovic.

Mikropopovic has left one of his arms exposed and Andre doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Mikropopovic screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jermaine Andre!
Jermaine Andre retains his middleweight title!