PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mon Key (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Key
vs
Michaels

185 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mon Key!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Michaels!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michaels changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Key looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Michaels is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Key has escaped the position, nice work there.

Michaels looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Michaels tries to move to mount but Key blocks the move with his legs.
Michaels misses with the ground and pound.
Key tries to buck Michaels off but Michaels is having none of it.

Michaels tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Michaels tries to move into full mount but can't pass Key's legs.

Michaels tries for a kimura but Key is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Key misses with a takedown

and Michaels counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Michaels lands a body shot in the clinch.
Michaels wants to stall.
Michaels tries for a takedown but Key manages to get underhooks.

Key pulls guard.
Michaels trying to control but Key is working from the bottom.

Key working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Michaels has passed into half guard!
Key keeping hold of Michaels's head, controlling as best he can.
Key tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to control. Key wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Key won't allow Michaels to pass to mount.
Key makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Key.

Key working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Michaels doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Michaels manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Key is breathing heavily.
Michaels works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Key controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Michaels has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels wants to finish this one by submission but Key is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Michaels.
Michaels wants to stand but Key is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Key working to try and regain half guard.
Michaels throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Michaels looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Michaels jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Key is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Key and Michaels has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Michaels swings around for an armbar but Key sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Michaels's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Key is stalling in the full guard.
Key stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Michaels swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Michaels looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Key passes into half guard.
Michaels trying to control from the bottom.
Key stalling.
Michaels is looking for a sweep. Key is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Max Michaels will probably get the nod.
That's time! Key's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt.

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Michaels trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Michaels looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Key gets back to half guard.
Michaels blocks the strikes from Key.
Key is looking for a sweep. Michaels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Key trying to hold on to Michaels's head to control him but Michaels postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Michaels is trying to control the action in half guard but Key is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Key is trying to maintain the position but Michaels is very close to passing his half guard.
Key is trying to get back to full guard.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but Key is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Michaels to get the leverage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Michaels shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Key counters with a good, hard body kick but Michaels shrugs it off.
Michaels fails with the takedown.

Key bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Michaels is looking to regain half guard here but Key keeps moving and retains side control.
Michaels takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is not content to let Key control the position.
Michaels manages to get back to half guard.

Key is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Michaels is not content to let Key control the position.
Michaels wants to get back to full guard.

Michaels actively working from the bottom here.
Michaels trying to control but Key postures up.

Michaels actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Michaels gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Michaels pushes Key away with a front kick.
Key with a lazy takedown attempt
and Key takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Michaels lands a high kick!

Michaels gets a clinch.

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

Michaels rushes Key and presses him up against the cage.
Key missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Key has Michaels pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Michaels manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Michaels pressing his opponent against the cage.

Michaels jumps into guard, dragging Key to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Key controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Michaels looking for a guillotine here but Key defends easily.

Michaels is looking for a triangle but Key pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Max Michaels will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Key scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Michaels sneaks back into half guard.

Michaels is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Key pulls his head out easily.

Key is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Michaels is just riding it out for now. Key eventually gives up the hold.

Michaels looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Key prevents Michaels from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Key trying to mount his opponent but Michaels defends it.
Michaels slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Michaels trying to strike off his back.

Michaels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Key doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Key manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Key looking to pass the guard.
Michaels has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Key has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Michaels takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Key wants to control but Michaels is keeping him busy.

Key is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Michaels has escaped the position, nice work there.
Michaels throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Key is looking to take a break and control but Michaels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Key wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Michaels, who protects the arm well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up but Key swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Key misses with a takedown attempt
and Michaels counters with a solid body kick.
Mon Key is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michaels scores with a spinning back kick!
Michaels moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Michaels closes the distance and clinches.

Michaels decides to pull guard.

Michaels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Key doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Key manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Key trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Michaels striking off his back but it's not causing Key any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Michaels working for a triangle but Key defends it easily.

Michaels is looking for a triangle here but Key uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mon Key has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Max Michaels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaels looking for a sweep but Key has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Key cracks Michaels with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mon Key.
I think Michaels has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Michaels!