PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bryce Michel (ranked 800 p4p, 1826 weight class) and Jach Bresnar (ranked 109 p4p, 247 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Michel
vs
Bresnar

175 cm
28
169
6 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
165
6 - 3 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bryce Michel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jach Bresnar!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Bresnar does no damage.
Michel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bresnar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Michel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bresnar's waist but Bresnar gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michel off to one side.
Bresnar throws a jab but it's blocked by Michel.
Michel half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Michel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bresnar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Michel somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryce Michel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bresnar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bresnar moves into range and clinches up with Michel.

Michel wants the takedown. Bresnar is fighting it off but Michel persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bresnar's guard against the cage.
Michel wants to control from the top but Bresnar keeps moving.
Michel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bresnar is keeping the position for now.
Bresnar wants to stand and escape but Michel is having none of it.
Michel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bresnar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Michel looking to sit in guard and control but Bresnar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Michel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Michel is trying to keep Bresnar in close.

Michel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bresnar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bresnar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Michel is trying to control the position but Bresnar postures up.

Michel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Michel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bresnar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michel is trying to control the position but Bresnar postures up.

Michel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bresnar is aware though and is defending well.

Michel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bresnar defends it easily.
Bresnar wants to stand but Michel is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Michel is looking for a triangle here but Bresnar uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Bresnar tries to stand but Michel is controlling his head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michel struggling a bit here.
Bresnar wants to stand but Michel has his arm trapped.
Michel struggling a bit here.
Michel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bresnar tries to stand but Michel is controlling his head.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Michel is looking to regain half guard here but Bresnar keeps moving and retains side control.

Bresnar stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A combination from Bresnar does no damage.

Michel shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bresnar won't allow Michel to pass to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bresnar tries to kick Michel off but Michel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Michel is taking a breather. Bresnar says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Michel tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bresnar knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jach Bresnar dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Michel gets a double leg takedown into Bresnar's guard.
Bresnar keeping moving, preventing Michel from controlling successfully.
Michel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Michel trying to control the position from guard on top but Bresnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bresnar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michel trying to control the position from guard on top but Bresnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bresnar throws a right hand that Michel ducks under and follows up with a left that Michel also avoids with ease.
Bresnar with a nice cross.
Bresnar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bresnar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bresnar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bresnar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bresnar leaves Michel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bresnar lands a jab to the nose.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bresnar misses with a looping left.

Michel manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bresnar on his heels. He'll look to pass Bresnar's guard now, I'm sure.
Michel looking to pass the guard.
Michel stops Bresnar from standing up.
Bresnar keeping full guard, as Michel tries to pass.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bresnar wants to stand and escape but Michel is having none of it.
Michel wants to control from the top but Bresnar keeps moving.
Our spies down at at whitey's gym inform us that Bresnar has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bresnar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Michel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Michel darts in looking for a takedown but Bresnar gets double underhooks and turns Michel into the cage.
Bresnar looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Michel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bresnar lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Bresnar clinches up with Michel and pushes him back against the cage.
Michel looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryce Michel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michel drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bresnar pulls his leg out and moves away.

Bresnar gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michel is trying to drag Bresnar to the mat but Bresnar just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bresnar prevents a takedown attempt there.
Michel tries to score a body lock takedown but Bresnar shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bresnar stalling.

Bresnar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Michel tries to clinch up.
Bryce Michel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bresnar stalks Michel and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Michel's face. Michel staggers backwards, shaken.
Jach Bresnar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bresnar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michel wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michel shoots in for a takedown but Bresnar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Michel is defended easily by Bresnar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jach Bresnar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Michel needs to keep his hands up - Bresnar had a free shot at his head there.
Bresnar digs a good hook to Michel's body.
Bresnar lands a jab to the nose.
A combination from Bresnar does no damage.
Michel slips a jab and a cross from Bresnar.
Bresnar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bresnar throws a sloppy head kick and Michel moves out of range easily.
Bresnar with a nice cross.
Bresnar throws a hook but Michel blocks it.
Bresnar misses with a looping right.
Michel attempts a counter takedown but Bresnar avoids it well and moves away.
Michel tries for a takedown but Bresnar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jach Bresnar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bresnar with a nice cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Horrible takedown attempt by Michel or perhaps it was just good defense by Bresnar, which made it look bad.
A little jabbing left from Bresnar on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Michel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bresnar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryce Michel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michel looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bresnar is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Michel looking to slow down the pace here.
Michel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bresnar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bresnar stops a takedown attempt from Michel.
Michel is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bresnar pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Bresnar manages to break the clinch.
Bresnar cracks a nice hook into Michel's ribs.
Michel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bresnar counters by clinching up.

Bresnar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bresnar lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bresnar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bresnar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bresnar connects with a nice looking jab.

Bresnar sends Michel crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Bresnar is motioning to the referee to let Michel up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Michel is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bresnar is looking for an opening here. He's unloaded a big left hand that catches Michel flush on the jaw and sends him tumbling to the canvas! Michel is out cold! Bresnar holds back from landing any unnecessary shots to his unconscious opponent, as the referee reacts slowly to the situation. A brutal knockout and then some excellent sportsmanship - this guy is my new favorite fighter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jach Bresnar!
Jach Bresnar is the new lightweight champion!