PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miko Laakso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Matthes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laakso
vs
Matthes

172 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miko Laakso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Matthes!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laakso getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Matthes moves out of range of the strikes.
Laakso looks to land a right hand but Matthes moved out of range.
Matthes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Laakso defends it well.
Laakso misses with a hook. Matthes ducked under it nicely.
Laakso throws a lazy head kick

and Matthes counters with a takedown into side control.
Laakso on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laakso tries to get out of the position.
Laakso tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Matthes tries for a kimura but Laakso is defending well.

Matthes goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Laakso rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Matthes's guard! Nice work there by Laakso!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laakso being controlled here momentarily.
Laakso wanted to stand there but Matthes had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthes is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Matthes tries for a takedown but Laakso manages to get underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Matthes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laakso avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthes goes for a takedown attempt but Laakso pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Miko Laakso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Matthes.
Laakso cracks Matthes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Laakso just misses with a punch to the body.
Laakso connects with a jab.

Laakso pushes Matthes up against the cage in a clinch.
Nice elbow from Laakso.
Matthes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Laakso stalling the fight.
Matthes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Laakso after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laakso is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Laakso is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Matthes is working for takedown but Laakso is calmly controlling the position for now.
A shot in the inside from Laakso.
Stalling in the clinch from Laakso.
A hook to the body from Laakso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Laakso is defending well.
A bit of stalling here from Laakso.
Matthes can't get the takedown.
Laakso lands an elbow just above Matthes 's eye.
Matthes wants a takedown.
Laakso scores with a shoulder strike.
Matthes wants a takedown but no success here.
Laakso lands an elbow that stopped Matthes in his tracks for a moment.
Matthes wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miko Laakso dominated that round.
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.

Laakso cracks Matthes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Laakso throws an off balance right hand

and Matthes counters with a single leg into guard. Laakso didn't expect that.
Matthes trying to control the position from guard on top but Laakso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laakso is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Matthes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Matthes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laakso has control of Matthes's left arm, preventing Matthes from doing any damage.
Matthes has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Hybrid Fighting Academy . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Matthes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Laakso is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matthes can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Laakso tries to improve position but can't.
Matthes in side control, throwing shots but Laakso defends.
Matthes throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Matthes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Matthes is trying to get an arm triangle but Laakso is defending well.

Matthes has hold of Laakso's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Laakso tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Matthes cranks the arm and Laakso screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Laakso, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Mike Matthes!
After the fight, Mike Matthes was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.